WOOD RIVER, IL — A Midwest city once known for manufacturing is betting big on media. In a unanimous vote Monday night, the Wood River City Council approved the $1 million sale of 105 acres of public land to WR Farm Investments LLC—clearing the way for a proposed $62 million production facility dubbed Hollywood River Studios, complete with five soundstages and a state-of-the-art e-gaming arena.

The deal, which includes up to $600,000 in rebates tied to construction milestones, marks a significant pivot for the long-dormant site, formerly known as the EnviroTech Business Park. Now renamed the Wood River Business Park, the acreage has been city-owned since 1986, waiting for a project with enough ambition—and economic promise—to activate it.

“This has been a long time coming,” said City Manager Steve Palen. “It may seem unusual to some people, but this project has the potential to transform not just Wood River, but the entire region.”

At the helm is CEO Chris Breakwell, a veteran of real estate finance and founder of Pittsburgh’s 31st Street Studios. Breakwell told the council the next phase includes due diligence and environmental analysis, particularly around wetland use. But the vision is bold: a modern production campus that embraces both traditional filmmaking and next-gen digital creators.

A Tax Credit-Fueled Revival

One of the project’s primary drivers? Illinois’ robust and stable film tax credit, which offers up to 40% back on qualifying in-state expenses—a sharp contrast to Breakwell’s previous experience in Pennsylvania, where the annual reauthorization of film incentives created instability for long-term investors.

“This time, we’ve got a broader investor base—and a more reliable incentive program,” said Breakwell. “That’s the difference-maker.”

According to Breakwell, each production shot on-site could bring 300 to 500 temporary jobs, with the complex ultimately housing several hundred permanent employees. But it’s not just about the major players—Hollywood River Studios is positioning itself as a home for independent creators, YouTubers, podcasters, and streamers looking for high-end infrastructure to scale up their work.

“That’s how you build a new kind of media economy,” Breakwell said. “You support the next wave of content makers, not just the legacy studios.”

From Steel to Screens

Breakwell’s track record includes transforming Pittsburgh’s abandoned steelworks into a major production hub. Though that venture ended in bankruptcy following tax credit disputes and internal investor clashes, he views the Wood River project as a chance to get it right—with stronger foundations and clearer incentives.

City officials, meanwhile, are hoping the soundstage complex will do more than just create jobs—it could put Wood River on the production map at a time when studios are expanding their geographic footprint in search of tax-friendly, infrastructure-ready locations beyond Los Angeles and New York.

If the timeline holds, construction could begin in early 2026, with soundstages operational by late 2026 or early 2027.

“Hollywood River Studios might sound like a stretch,” Palen said. “But it’s exactly the kind of stretch this city is ready for.”