Financial Assistance Programs

Tourism Financial Assistance Programs
Applicable to Fiscal Year 2004 (July 1, 2003- June 30, 2004)

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Tourism Marketing Match Grants Program. This is a $1,200,000 annual program. Eligible projects include those directly related to the promotional efforts of local tourism organizations to markets over 100 miles away or out-of-state. Approved projects may receive up to 50% of eligible and applicable costs. An independent five-member committee comprised of representatives of the tourism industry awards grants. Program Guidelines and Application are published.

Application Deadlines

All applications for matching grant assistance must be submitted through your local convention and visitors bureau, chamber or commerce with a designated tourism council or commission, or established tourism council with the primary objective of promoting tourism.

Certified Retirement Community Grant Program. This is a $75,000 annual program. Eligible applicants for funding include the designated sponsors of state certified Hometown Mississippi Retirement communities. Eligible projects include those directly related to the marketing and promotional efforts of state certified Hometown Mississippi Retirement communities to markets out-of-state and for research studies. Approved projects may receive up to 50% of eligible and applicable costs. A three-member committee carries out the selection process. Program Guidelines and Applications are published.

Application Deadlines

Click here for Mississippi Hometown Retirement. This website showcases our 20 Certified Retirement cities.

Festival/Event Grant Program. This is a $500,000 cooperative grant program equally funded by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (Tribe) and MDA's Tourism Division and administered through the Tribal-State Compact. Any organization meeting the purposes may apply. Grants are available to 1) promote economic development through tourism, 2) enhance the image of Mississippi and its communities and regions, and 3) improve the quality of life. Program emphasis is to help tourism events become established and self-supporting. Funding in future years will be reduced and go away after three years. Representatives of the Tribe and Tourism Division award grants jointly utilizing established rating criterion. Program Guidelines, Application, and Project Clearance Report are published. You may fill out this application online, then print it out. You cannot submit the application online.

Application Deadlines

Mississippi Tourism Incentive Program. This is an incentive program that allows approved "family - oriented entertainment enterprise" projects to recover up to 35 % of the original indebtedness or project capital costs or both within a 10-year period. The amount of the recovery is based directly on the amount of sales taxes collected by the approved project and paid to the State Tax Commission less specific diversions identified in section 27-65-75 except the city diversion. Campgrounds and theme parks are identified as examples of eligible projects. The project also includes 1) auditoriums, 2) dining facilities, 3) gift shops, and 4) lodging facilities if located on the project site or located within I mile of the project. The Mississippi Development Authority administers this program. Certain restrictions apply to entities having a gaming license issued under section 75-76-1 et seq.

A minimum initial capital investment of $5,000,000 is required for developed areas or of $3,000,000 for moderately or less developed areas. Developed, moderately developed, and less developed areas are defined in section 57-73-21. Capital investment for lodging and dining facilities may not be included as a portion of the minimum investment requirement but are eligible for the rebate. Guidelines are available online and may be printed. The Application for this program cannot be filled out online, but can be printed, filled out and mailed to the address provided on the application. You may also obtain information about this program by contacting us at advantagems@mississippi.org.

For additional information about these programs contact:

Mississippi Division of Tourism
P. O. Box 849
Jackson, MS 39205
601.359.3297