(ASSOCIATED PRESS)- The Michigan Film Office has approved incentives for four movies during the first half of this year.
The Detroit Free Press reports that's down from 12 in the year-ago period.
The film office received 21 applications for the state's film incentives, compared with 69 during the first half of 2011.
Film office spokeswoman Michelle Begnoche says several other movie projects "are very close to approval that we hope to announce soon."
Governor Rick Snyder in 2011 reduced spending on Michigan's film incentive program to help balance the state's budget. With fewer incentives available, interest among Hollywood producers to film their projects here has waned.
The four movies approved so far in 2012 have been awarded a total of $14.5 million in grants
