In what has been described as a “political plot twist”, the King County Council voted on November 18, 2025, to provide temporary funding to prevent the immediate closure of Harbor Island Studios. The facility had been previously slated for budget cuts.

The short-term funding guarantees that the studio will remain open through June 2026. This decision buys time for county leaders to explore longer-term solutions as King County grapples with a significant $150 million county budget deficit.

Harbor Island Studios is a vital piece of the region’s creative infrastructure. Located at the old Fisher Flour Mill on Harbor Island, the facility was converted into a massive 100,000-square-foot film production studio and officially opened in 2021. It holds the distinction of being Washington’s largest film production facility and is noted as one of the few publicly funded studios in the United States.

The studio has already demonstrated significant economic impact, having hosted major productions, including a season of Love is Blind. Sources indicate that the facility supported over 1,800 local jobs in 2025 alone.

Advocates who pushed for the temporary funding argue that the studio represents a rare public investment in creative infrastructure, crucial for attracting productions and jobs to Seattle. They maintain that allowing the studio to close would dismantle workforce development, creative infrastructure, and regional film production capacity. Furthermore, the closure could negatively ripple through related sectors such as hospitality, construction, and service industries tied to film production.

The Council’s decision reflects how cultural and creative assets must compete with core services—such as transit, housing, and general public services—in years defined by tight budgets.

The temporary reprieve is not permanent. The King County Council is mandated to revisit the studio's fate by June 2026, when it must decide whether to continue funding or allow the studio to close permanently