Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 144-1-4 - Application Review and Evaluation4.1. The Division shall review all applications for completeness and conformance to this rule. If an application is deemed to be incomplete or not in conformance with this rule, the Division may return the application to the applicant for additional information or otherwise contact the applicant and request the information required. The Commission reserves the right to deny or to defer consideration of any incomplete application or of any application that fails to conform to the appropriate rules and guidelines.4.2. The Commission shall establish a subcommittee to evaluate and prioritize all applications that are complete and conform to guidelines. The subcommittee may include non-commission members, but the majority shall be Commission members. The chair of the subcommittee shall be a Commission member and shall report to the Commission the subcommittee's recommendations for each application considered.4.3. With the exception of applications received under the small grants program established in §7.2 of this rule, or under the fairs and festivals grants program established in §7.3 of this rule, final approval of applications must be upon a vote of the Commission. Eligible and complete applications shall be evaluated and given priority by the subcommittee, using the following criteria: 4.3.1. The project demonstrates potential for a strong positive return on investment and is well researched.4.3.2. The project promotes a viable tourism destination, attraction or festival.4.3.3. The project is a part of the applicant's overall marketing plan.4.3.4. The project includes repeat marketing efforts and the results from those efforts justify repeat handing. Applications for projects that include repeat marketing efforts shall contain information demonstrating that such repeat marketing efforts are in addition to regular ongoing advertising activities.4.3.5. The geographic advertising markets appear reasonable and based upon research.4.3.6. The project demonstrates how it will increase visitation, length of stay and/or tourism expenditures from outside a 50-mile radius, or in a major out of state market.4.3.7. The project includes tracking and evaluation measures.4.3.8. The project will have a significant impact on the area's overall tourism efforts.4.3.9. The project involves partnerships that leverage additional public/private investment.4.3.10. The project supports advertising activities that are over and above regular ongoing advertising activities.4.4. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, in accordance with program priorities established by section 4.3 above. The Commission anticipates that the demands on the tourism promotion fund will soon exceed the available monies in that fund, hi the event that the fund does not have sufficient monies to fund the grants seeking funding, the Commission will award grants based on how successfully the grants meet the evaluation criteria. The Commission reserves the right to award some grants and deny others, as well as the right to fund grants at a level less than the 50% match.4.5. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing within fifteen (15) days of the Commission's/Division's decision on the application.4.5.1. Grant applicants failing to receive an award due to funding limitations may revise their grant according to recommendations of the Commission/Division, and resubmit their grant application along with a letter of request for reconsideration in accordance with established deadlines.