Welcome to the Department of Parks and
Tourism’s “TOURISM ATTRACTION FEASIBILITY STUDY MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM.” This information is designed to assist you
through the application process. If you
have questions, please feel free to call or write to:
Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study
Grant Program
Department of Parks and Tourism
Tourism Development Section
One Capitol Mall
The only entities eligible to apply for
financial assistance for a tourism attraction feasibility study are:
·
Incorporated Cities
·
Counties
Unincorporated cities or communities
must seek county sponsorship of the study. Of course, incorporated cities may submit a
joint application with counties or other incorporated cities for the
sponsorship of the study.
The following may not make application
for the Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study Grant Program:
·
Chambers of Commerce
·
Regional Tourist Associations
·
Advertising and Promotion Commissions
·
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
·
Colleges and Universities
·
Other private non-profit corporations, foundations, clubs or
organizations
·
Any other private entity
Only one grant per fiscal year will be
allowed per applicant unless a county is applying on behalf of separate
cities. Only one grant per project will
be allowed during the life span of the project.
Applicants may apply for up to $15,000
in reimbursable matching funds. The
applicant must be able to match the grant amount with a like amount of
cash. In-kind contributions are
ineligible as a match. Other state funds
received by a city or county qualifying or utilizing funds under this program
are also ineligible as a match. Grant
awards will be made to eligible applicants on the basis of available
appropriated funds. Each grant will be
given on a matching one-for-one basis.
For example, if a city applies for $15,000 in matching funds, it must be
able to match the grant with $15,000.
Only tourism attraction feasibility
studies can be funded through this program.
A tourism feasibility study is defined as research conducted for the
purpose of determining the possibility and potential of a specific tourism
attraction within the city or county boundaries. Tourism attraction means cultural or
historical site, recreational or entertainment facility, area of natural
phenomenon or scenic beauty, theme park, amusement or entertainment
park, indoor or outdoor play or music show, botanical gardens, or
cultural or educational centers.
There will be three grant award periods
per fiscal year with a maximum of $15,000 per grant being awarded. The deadline for receipt of applications is
Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study
Grant Program
Arkansas Department of Parks and
Tourism
Tourism Development Section
One Capitol Mall
The application can be prepared locally
or by consultants (grant preparation cannot be paid for with grant funds). The Tourism Development staff will be
available to assist with any questions about the grant application.
All requests for state grant funds
under this program should be submitted on the application form. Each
applicant must submit a statement of the minutes or administrative order from
the governing city or county board approving the matching fund grant request
and a statement affirming the amount of funds held by or committed for the
project. Each city or county should
appoint an agent to act as a coordinator between the city or
county and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The agent’s name, mailing address, and phone
number should be listed on the application form.
A statement of procedures that will be
used by the party conducting the study should be submitted with the
application. In addition, a summary of
how the study will be utilized and benefit the grantee should be
submitted. When the study is contracted
to a vendor outside of the city or county governmental operation, the name of
the professional firm, a brief history and list of clients and experience, and
the procedures it will use to perform the study should be presented with the
application.
This application form must be completed
in full. The directions for completing
this form are listed below.
For the applicant(s), list the name(s)
of the city or county submitting the application. List the project’s title. For the agent, list the person on staff at
the city or county who will be acting as the agent between the city or county and the Arkansas Department of Parks and
Tourism. List the mailing address, phone
number and fax number of the city hall or county courthouse. List the agent’s e-mail address if applicable. List the county where the project will/does
exist. If this is a joint application,
each applicant must be listed.
List the amount of matching funds
requested for the project. The amount of
matching funds requested can total no greater than 50%, up to $15,000, of the
total cost of the study. List the total
cost for the tourism attraction feasibility study.
List the entity that will be conducting
the feasibility study. Answer yes or no
as to whether the entity conducting the study is part of the city or county
governmental operation or is an outside firm.
If the entity conducting the study is an outside firm, list the firm
name, mailing address, phone number and fax number. Also attach a brief history and a list of
clients and experience for the outside firm conducting the study.
The applicant’s Chief Executive Officer
must complete this section, including his or her signature, printed name, title
and the date signed. The applicant’s
Chief Executive Officer may be the mayor, city manager, or county judge. If this is a joint application, all parties
involved must sign the form. A statement
of the minutes or administrative order from the governing city or county board
approving the matching fund grant request and a statement affirming the amount
of funds held by or committed for the project must be attached. Also, a statement of the procedures that will
be used by the entity conducting the study and a summary of how the study will
be utilized must be attached.
This section must contain the name of
the person who prepared the application, including a complete address and phone
number.
The Tourism Director of the Department
of Parks and Tourism will appoint a panel to review and approve qualifications
of all grant applications.
Recommendations by this panel will be made to the Tourism Director or
his appointee for the awarding of the grants within fifteen (15) days of the
application due date.
All feasibility studies must be
completed within 120 days/4 months of the awarding of the grant, or they may be
considered void and canceled. The
Tourism Director or his appointee may approve an extension of the completion
date, but in no case may the completion date be extended beyond June 30 of the
fiscal year in which the grant is awarded.
Matching funds may only be expended for the purpose as reported in the
application and approved by the Tourism Director or his appointee.
In some instances, the Department may
require standard or special procedures to be used in completing grants. In such cases, these procedures will be
issued before the grant is approved, accepted, and made a part of the
application.
A copy of the tourism attraction
feasibility study should be submitted to the Department of Parks and Tourism
within thirty (30) days after its completion.
In addition, a summary of how the study will be used should be
submitted.
Within thirty (30) days of completion
of the study, the city or county must submit the following:
1) A completed,
legible Request for Payment Form verifying that the city or county has
completed and spent at least one-half of the grant amount or total project cost
from funds provided by the city or county.
2) Copies of
itemized invoices reflecting the total cost of the project.
3) A copy of the
city or county’s canceled checks (front and back) or cashier’s check reflecting
that one-half or more of the grant amount has been expended as required in the
application.
4) A copy of the
tourism attraction feasibility study and a summary of how the study will be
used.
This request for payment form must be completed and turned in to Parks
and Tourism within thirty (30) days of the completion of the feasibility study.
List the name of the applicant as it
should appear on the payment voucher from the Department of Parks and
Tourism. List the agent’s name – the
payment voucher will be sent to this person’s attention. List the mailing address, phone number, and
fax number for the city hall or county courthouse. List the e-mail address of the agent if
applicable. List the county where the
project will/does exist.
List the name of the project for which
the feasibility study was conducted.
List the total cost of the feasibility study for the project. List the matching share claimed – this amount
can total no greater than 50%, up to $15,000, of the total cost of the study.
The applicant’s Chief Executive Officer
must provide his or her signature, printed name, title and date signed. The applicant’s Chief Executive Office may be
the mayor, city manager, or county judge.
Attach a copy of the itemized invoice
from the entity conducting the feasibility study, photocopies of the grantee’s
canceled checks (front and back) or cashier’s check, a copy of the feasibility
study, and a summary of the study’s usage.