Phillipsburg certified as New Jersey “Film Ready” community, mayor thanks local liaisons
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. (Warren County) — The Town of Phillipsburg has been approved as a certified Film Ready Community, a designation meant to help New Jersey municipalities attract film and television productions by meeting standardized requirements, according to a letter from the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission.
In a letter dated Jan. 16, 2026, commission Executive Director Jon Crowley informed Mayor Randy S. Piazza Jr. that Phillipsburg had been approved under the Film Ready New Jersey Program, which the commission said recently updated its requirements to create a streamlined framework for participating communities.
The commission said the town will receive a Film Ready New Jersey logo for use in publicity and publications and will be tagged in Reel-Scout, the commission’s online location library, as “Located in A Film Ready Community.” The letter also said the community will have unlimited access to upload location photos on a rolling basis.
Piazza credited two local officials for helping the town secure the certification and offered a public message of support amid local criticism.
“A well-deserved thank you to Elizabeth Judge Wyant and Alex Ibarra for the hard work and dedication they’ve shown over the past year and a half in helping Town of Phillipsburg achieve Film Ready Community certification,” Piazza said.
“I know there have recently been some voices questioning your commitment and effort. This recognition is a clear reminder that hard work, consistency, and a genuine love for Phillipsburg do pay off. In time, even the toughest critics will come around and see the real value you both bring to the Town of Phillipsburg.
“Congratulations and thank you for believing in this community,” he said.
The Film Ready program is an initiative of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. In the letter, Crowley said partnerships with local governments are vital as the state prepares its localities for a growing film and television industry.
