An empty Army base in New Jersey will receive $905 million from streaming behemoth Netflix to become its East Coast production hub.
The 292-acre Fort Monmouth post, located roughly 60 miles south of Midtown, was purchased by the streamer, known for hits including “Stranger Things” and “Emily in Paris,” for $55 million, according to the company.
Additionally, the business intends to contribute up to $850 million to the neighborhood to build the cutting-edge production facility, including 12 soundstages.
In announcing the agreement on Wednesday, Ted Sarandos, co-CEO and chief content officer of Netflix, stated, “We believe a Netflix studio can improve the local and state economy with thousands of new employment and billions in economic activity, while generating a thriving production ecosystem in New Jersey.”
Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey claimed that 3,500 construction jobs, in addition to more than 1,500 permanent production jobs, will be generated by Netflix’s presence in the state.
Murphy says, “This transformative investment will serve as a cornerstone in our attempts to build a vibrant sector from scratch.” New Jersey’s position as a rising national leader in the television and film industries will be further cemented due to over a billion dollars in film production spending.
According to Netflix’s head of content and studio affairs, Rajiv Dalal, “I think we required an East Coast production powerhouse.” “And given the professional crew base in New Jersey that has worked on our titles in New York but lives in New Jersey, the abundance of beautiful natural settings, the closeness to significant urban centers, and the fact that we were able to secure a sizable plot of land close to 300 acres. Those were the main deciding factors.
What is New Jersey Army?
In the New Jersey Army National Guard, there are about 6,000 citizen soldiers. [Required Citation] There are numerous domestic and international missions in which the New Jersey Army National Guard is presently involved. Units have been deployed to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Germany, Kosovo, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Egypt. The Guard has also been dispatched to assist with the recovery after Hurricane Irma in Texas and the US Virgin Islands, Hurricane Maria in Florida and Puerto Rico, and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.