To locals, Fitzgerald Park is simply a nice place to walk and relax. But for this Hollywood crew, the Grand Ledge landmark is everything they've been looking for in a set.

"It's beautiful," says Tripp Vinson, a producer on the remake of the 1980's classic Red Dawn. "It's really worked out for us."

Vinson says Grand Ledge beat out a handful of other cities in the U.S. and Canada for the movie shoot-- and for the benefits that come along with the 200-person-plus crew.

"They're staying at local hotels, they're eating at local restaurants and bars," Vinson says.

"Oh man, we sure can't complain," says Jenn Jehnsen, manager at Frank's Press Box in Delta Township. Nearly 100 members of the cast and crew, she says, have been coming into the restaurant.

"They've kept us busy on nights that are usually slower," she says. "We've appreciated the business."

From Frank's, to the Four Seasons Gift Store in Grand Ledge, the spin-off spending has been great-- and it should be. Grand Ledge has spent $3,000 on marketing itself to the movie industry; they hope it's paying off.

"In this economy, we need to diversify. We have a lot to offer in Grand Ledge. We have the ledges, the tressel," explains store owner Ken Black, who's also on the Grand Ledge DDA.

And even though Red Dawn is a big Hollywood production, much of the things and people you see on set are from right here in mid-Michigan.

"We use local hries in many areas: local vendors, security, even some cast," Vinson says.

Grand Ledge Economic Development head Mark Sullivan says he "absolutely" wants more movies to come to Grand Ledge.

"If we get enough of them here, it's going to be additional money into the community from the outside," he says.

"I want one a week!" Black says. "Mid-michigan has a lot to offer. We just need to sell it."

But according to the red dawn staff, they already have.
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MGM is paying Eaton County $1,000 a day to use Fitzgerald Park. The crew should be here until Thursday, and the movie is set to open in September of next year. It stars actors Chris Hemsworth and Josh Peck.