15F.401 Sports tourism program.

1. a. The authority shall establish, and, at the direction of the board, shall administer a sports tourism program to provide financial assistance for projects that promote sporting events for organizations of accredited colleges and universities and other sporting events in the state.

b. For purposes of this section:

(1) “District” means a regional sports authority district certified under section 15E.321.

(2) “Financial assistance” means assistance provided only from the funds available to the authority or the board and includes assistance in the form of grants, loans, and forgivable loans.

(3) “Organization” means a corporation, conference, association, or other organization which has as one of its primary purposes the sponsoring or administration of extracurricular intercollegiate athletic contests or competitions.

c. The authority, by rule, shall define “accredited colleges and universities”, in consultation with the college student aid commission.

2. a. A city or county in the state or a public entity, including a convention and visitors bureau or a district, may apply to the authority for financial assistance for a project that actively and directly promotes sporting events for accredited colleges and universities and other sporting events in the area served by the city, county, or public entity.

b. A city, county, or public entity may apply for and receive financial assistance for more than one project.

c. A city, county, or public entity may apply for financial assistance for a project that spans multiple fiscal years or may apply for renewal of financial assistance awarded in a prior year if all applicable contractual requirements are met. The decision as to whether to renew an award shall be at the discretion of the board. The board may adopt by rule certain metrics and return on investment estimates for purposes of this paragraph. The authority may include such metrics and estimates in a program agreement executed pursuant to this section.

d. A convention and visitors bureau may apply to the authority for financial assistance pursuant to this section and a district may apply to the authority for district financial assistance, but a convention and visitors bureau shall not in the same year receive financial assistance under the program created in this section and financial assistance as part of a district.

3. The authority shall process applications under this section in accordance with this section and section 15F.402.

4. An applicant shall demonstrate matching funds in order to receive financial assistance pursuant to this section. The amount of matching funds that may be required shall be at the board’s discretion.

5. The board shall make final funding decisions on each application and may approve, deny, defer, or modify applications for financial assistance under the program, in its discretion, in order to fund as many projects with the moneys available as possible. The board and the authority may negotiate with applicants regarding the details of projects and the amount and terms of any award. In making final funding decisions pursuant to this subsection, the board and the authority are exempt from chapter 17A.

6. a. A city, county, or public entity may use financial assistance received under the program for marketing, promotions, and infrastructure. Whether an activity or individual cost item is directly related to the promotion of the sporting event shall be within the discretion of the authority.

b. All applications to the authority for financial assistance shall be made at least ninety days prior to an event’s scheduled date. A city, county, or public entity shall not use financial assistance received under the program as reimbursement for completed projects.

7. An applicant receiving financial assistance shall provide an annual report to the authority for years in which it receives financial assistance under this section. The report shall include the information the authority deems relevant.

8. Each applicant receiving an award of financial assistance from the board shall enter into an agreement with the authority. The agreement shall contain such terms and conditions as the board may place on the award or the authority may deem necessary for the efficient administration of the program established in this subchapter.

9. The authority, with the approval of the board, shall adopt rules for the administration of this subchapter.

2016 Acts, ch 1115, §10; 2017 Acts, ch 160, §1

Referred to in §15E.321, 15F.402