Court appoints George Romero to new film board; Romero outlines job, training and tourism goals

Montgomery County Fiscal Court appointed George Romero to the county's new film industry board and heard Romero describe how the board could bring independent film productions, job training and tourism to eastern Kentucky.

The court noted a December 2024 resolution established the local film industry board with five members: two appointed by the Montgomery County Fiscal Court, one by the mayor or city council leader, one by the Camargo City Commission and one by the Jeffersonville City Commission. Appointments are for three-year terms. At the meeting the court appointed George Romero to a term expiring Feb. 18, 2028; Tracy Pierce was also appointed to a three-year term by the court.

Romero said the board would pursue independent productions — particularly those with budgets he estimated between $1 million and $3 million — and would rely on Kentucky state tax incentives to attract work. "We're talking about films and budgets realistically between a million and $3,000,000," Romero said. He told the court the goal is to create local crew and technical jobs, provide training tied to local schools and colleges and build an infrastructure that could support sound stages and production facilities over a multi-year timeline. Romero estimated such efforts "within the next 2 to 3 years" could potentially create between 200 and 300 jobs, and he described tourism benefits from promoting local filming locations.

The court approved Romero's appointment by voice vote. The court's copy of the December resolution and the stated appointment distribution were entered into the record; no related appropriation or incentive program was approved at the meeting.