Senate Bill 2643

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OFFICE OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT TO PROMOTE AND MAKE GRANTS AVAILABLE TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL'S "HILL FIRE" FOLK LIFE PLAY TO ASSIST IN THE FINANCING OF TOURISM AND ADVERTISING PROGRAMS ON A STATEWIDE BASIS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, Hill Fire, a folk life play that is sponsored by the Montgomery County Arts Council, is an innovative play that has revitalized Montgomery County and surrounding areas through storytelling and the arts; and

WHEREAS, Hill Fire has united the community by preserving local history by using local stories and bringing them to life in the theater; and

WHEREAS, Hill Fire represents the renewal of community spirit, economic development and inspiring folk art throughout the State of Mississippi; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Development Authority Office of Tourism Development is hereby authorized and directed to designate and promote the "Hill Fire" folk life play in Montgomery County, Mississippi, as an official regional tourist promotion, and to make grants from funds specifically appropriated for such purposes to assist the program in the financing of promotional and advertising in order to encourage and stimulate statewide tourist travel and vacation business within the State of Mississippi.

(2) The Mississippi Development Authority shall include the "Hill Fire" folk life play in all statewide tourism publications and materials. In addition, the Mississippi Development Authority may provide grants to specific programs proposed by the folk life play. Before any such grant may be made, the board of directors of the folk life play shall make application to the Mississippi Development Authority for such grant, and shall have set forth therein the promotion and advertising program and project proposed to be undertaken for the purpose of encouraging and stimulating the tourist travel and vacation business within the region. The application shall further state the amount of funds held by or subscribed to the folk life play for application to any matching funds required by the Mississippi Development Authority and the amount of the grant for which application is made.

(3) The Mississippi Development Authority, after review of the application and if satisfied that the program promotes tourism, shall designate the folk life play as an official regional tourist promotion and authorize the making of a matching grant to the folk life play. The funds shall be used for tourist promotion, advertising or research programs to encourage and stimulate the visitor and vacation business and economic development within the region as may have been approved by the Mississippi Development Authority.

(4) Any such designation and grant awarded to the "Hill Fire" folk life play under this act shall be in addition to any grant awarded by the Mississippi Arts Commission.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.