Section 6. Regional marketing partnership grant program.
(a) Authorization.--The department may make grants to regional marketing partnerships that satisfy the eligibility criteria set forth in program guidelines to be adopted by the department working jointly with the Governor's Tourism Partnership.
(b) Funding for regional marketing partnership grants.--
(1) For the fiscal year 2008-2009, the department shall
award grants in the amount of 37% of the appropriation to
fund grants under this section.
(2) For the fiscal year 2009-2010, the department shall
award grants in the amount of 43% of the appropriation for
grants made under this section.
(3) For the fiscal year 2010-2011 and every fiscal year
thereafter, the department shall award grants in the amount
of 50% of the appropriation for grants made under this
section.
(c) Eligibility criteria for regional marketing partnership grants.--In order to be eligible for a grant under this act, a regional marketing partnership must satisfy the following criteria:
(1) The regional marketing partnership must include:
(i) the regional attractions marketing agency as
defined in section 3 of the act of December 21, 1998
(P.L.1307, No.174), known as the Community and Economic
Improvement Act, for counties of the first class;
(ii) the tourist promotion agency for a county of
the second class;
(iii) at least two counties of the third class
through eighth class;
(iv) for the counties of Cameron, Clarion,
Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming,
McKean, Potter, Tioga and Warren, the regional marketing
partnership determined by the tourist promotion agencies
of the counties to be the exclusive regional marketing
partnership for the counties; or
(v) a regional entity as defined by department
guidelines.
(2) The grantee must be an entity with a charter, bylaws
or other such binding governance document that specifies the
county, counties or parts of counties included in the tourism
marketing programs of the regional marketing partnership and
shall demonstrate that it provides comprehensive
representation of tourism stakeholders in the marketing
region.
(d) Appeal of decision.--A decision of ineligibility for grants under this section may be appealed to the secretary, whose decision shall be final. An appeal shall be heard in accordance with the regional marketing partnership grant program guidelines to be adopted by the department.
(e) Limitation.--No regional marketing partnership shall be awarded more than 35% of the appropriation allocated to the regional marketing partnership grant program in fiscal year 2008-2009. In fiscal year 2009-2010 and each fiscal year thereafter, no regional marketing partnership shall be awarded more than 30% of the appropriation allocated to the regional marketing partnership grant program.