Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a) All bureaus shall complete an application
and any additional Department required forms or assessments for funding. The
bureau shall retain one copy and submit one original of the application to the
Department's Springfield address. Failure to provide any information requested
in the application will result in the application not being processed. A
bureau's application for funding under the Local Tourism and Convention Bureau
Program shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
1) Standardized application form;
2) Name and signature of the bureau's chief
executive officer, salary, and length of employment with the bureau;
3) A Marketing Plan detailing all activities
to be initiated through the LTCB grant during the fiscal year;
4) Area to be served, such as municipalities,
counties, etc.;
5) Project Budget
Plan itemizing budget expenditure activities proposed for LTCB grant and
eligible match monies;
6) Line-item
breakout of source of local match funds;
7) A certified statement, from the authorized
official of the municipalities or counties that support the bureau with local
hotel/motel taxes, specifying the amount of local hotel/motel tax that will be
provided to the bureau during the fiscal year for the bureau's use and
expenditure on eligible program activities and for match for the State
grant;
8) Name of the financial
institution that will serve as the depository for LTCB grant and match
funds;
9) Fund account number for
LTCB grant and match funds; and
10)
Names, titles, and sample signatures for those persons who will be required to
authorize all account transactions, with a minimum of two signatures
required.
b) Upon
receipt of applications from bureaus, the Department shall review the
applications and:
1) Grant the full amount
requested; or
2) Take the following
action:
A) Ask for additional information to
clarify or document the information contained in the application;
and/or
B) Reduce the amount of
grant funds requested if there are insufficient match funds, or the projects
presented in the Marketing Plan do not focus on important tourism promotional
activities and have little substance, i.e., no media promotions planned, no
promotional materials being developed, the projects are not reasonable and are
not consistent and workable, and the bureau cannot effectively carry out the
projects. In the event that funding of a grant request is reduced, the bureau
may appeal to the Director of the Department within 10 days after notification.
The request for review shall be submitted in writing to the Director and shall
contain the reasons for appeal and any additional tourism related information
the bureau chooses to submit in support of its appeal. The Department shall
notify the bureau in writing of the Director's decision within 15 days after
receipt of the appeal.
