Netflix is expanding its presence in New York with a production hub in Bushwick that will bring up to $100 million in investments and thousands of jobs to the city, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday.
"Netflix is innovative, creative and bold, and the expansion of this cutting-edge company in New York once again demonstrates the Empire State is open for business," Cuomo said. "We're proud Netflix chose New York to grow its business, and we look forward to the jobs, economic activity and world-class productions this project will bring."
Netflix has leased 161,000 square feet to build six sound stages and support spaces at 333 Johnson Avenue, an industrial space that was previously home to a printing company. The hub will have the capacity to hold thousands of production crew jobs within five years.
The expansion also includes a new corporate office that will take up approximately 100,000 square feet in Manhattan. The offices will house 127 new executive content acquisition, development, production, legal, publicity and marketing positions in addition to Netflix's 32 current New York-based employees at its Chelsea location.
"New York has created a film-friendly environment that's home to some of the best creative and executive talent in the world, and we're excited to provide a place for them at Netflix with our production hub," said Jason Hariton, Director of Worldwide Studio Operations and Real Estate at Netflix.
Netflix has produced numerous shows in NYC, including Orange is the New Black, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, She's Gotta Have It, The Irishman, Someone Great, Private Life and Russian Doll. The company is the world's leading internet entertainment service with over 139 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages.
To bring the 127 high-paying jobs to NYC, the state's economic development corporation Empire State Development has offered up to $4 million in performance-based Excelsior Tax Credits over ten years. For Netflix to receive the full incentive, the company must create the 127 jobs by 2024 at its new office and then retain those new jobs and their existing 32 office jobs for another five years.
