D.__The proposal contains methods to account for a return on the State's investment;

E.__There is evidence that the effort will generate increased sales and taxes at least equal to the State's contribution;

F.__Alternative subsidies for tourism within the region are limited; and

G.__If the region served by the organization has an unemployment level higher than the state average or has more than half of its population living below the federal poverty level, then this factor must be given special emphasis in determining eligibility for the grant.

4.__Amount of grants.__The total of grants to any one region may not exceed $100,000 annually.

5.__Funding.__The Regional Tourism Promotion Grant Fund is created as a nonlapsing fund administered by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development.__All grants made pursuant to this section must be made from that fund.__The fund may receive money from appropriations or allocations made by the Legislature or by gift or grant from other sources.__Annually, the commissioner shall allocate a total of $400,000 from the budget of the office to the fund.

6.__Adoption of rules.__In addition to the criteria in subsection 3, the office may adopt rules to develop additional criteria for the selection of grant recipients and to designate the towns to be included in the 8 regions.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined by chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

7.__Report to Legislature.__The office shall submit an annual report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business and economic development matters no later than February 15th with respect to implementation of the program.__This report, at a minimum, must include the number of grants awarded, the estimated impact of the grant on the region and the estimated tourism dollars generated as a result of the grant.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes the Regional Tourism Promotion Grant Program to be administered by the Office of Tourism and Community Development within the Department of Economic and Community Development. Through the grant program, the 8 tourism regions of the State may receive grants of up to $100,000 per region per year to promote tourism in the regions. The bill lists criteria for determining eligibility for the grants. The program is funded primarily by directing the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to use $400,000 of the budget of the Office of Tourism and Community Development for grants. The program may receive additional funds from other sources.