Maryland Governor Visits House of Cards in Harford County

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD) was on the set of House of Cards in Joppa Tuesday publicizing the benefits of a recently passed film tax credit, the results of which included job creation.

House of Cards, the political thriller that was the first series produced by Netflix, filmed its opening season in Harford County last year. It provided 2,200 jobs for Marylanders and brought in more than $140 million for the state, O'Malley said in a prepared statement.

Recent legislation provided a key role in the return of the series to Harford County in 2013, O'Malley said.

"The passage of legislation to enhance and extend the Film Production Activity Tax Credit in the recently completed session of the General Assembly secured the second season of House of Cards for Maryland," according to a statement from O'Malley's office.

The Film Production Activity Tax Credit, which passed through the General Assembly in 2013, allows production companies to receive up to $25 million in tax credits for spending at least $500,000 in Maryland, according to the L.A. Business Journal.

“We’re grateful to Governor O'Malley and the State Legislature for encouraging film and TV production in Maryland,” Beau Willimon, the developer of House of Cards, said in a prepared statement.

"The state's vendors, crews, diverse locations and government support make it an ideal place to film," Willimon said.

Harford County has felt the positive effects, according to Jim Richardson, director of Harford County Office of Economic Development.

Food purchases, supplies and labor contributed positively to the local economy, Richardson said.

“One of the major benefits has been the extras that have been in the show," Richardson said. "I have run into so many people that enjoyed that experience and have seen them on TV in the production."

In fact, extras are invited to a casting call on Saturday, May 18, in Bel Air.

Filming for House of Cards will continue until October, according to Takirra Winfield, spokeswoman for O’Malley.

See Related:

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• TV Show Filming in Havre de Grace
• O'Malley May Visit Harford 'House Of Cards' Set