A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT appropriating funds for the rural tourism development grant program to provide grants to local governments and nonprofit tourism-related organizations to encourage the development of new tourism projects, activities, and jobs in rural areas of the state.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  (a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year to be used for the Rural Tourism Development Grant Program.  The Department shall establish and implement this program to provide grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to encourage the development of new tourism projects and activities in rural areas of the State.  The Department shall develop procedures for the administration and distribution of funds allocated to the Rural Tourism Development Grant Program under the following guidelines:
(1)	Eligible organizations shall make application for one project under procedures established by the Department.
(2)	Eligible organizations shall be nonprofit tourism‑related organizations located in the State's rural regions.
(3)	Priority shall be given to eligible organizations that have significant involvement of travel and tourism‑related businesses.
(4)	Priority shall be given to eligible organizations serving economically distressed rural counties.
(5)	Priority shall be given to eligible organizations that match funds.
(6)	Funds shall not be used for renting or purchasing land or buildings, or for financing debt.
(7)	Regional projects shall be encouraged.
SECTION 1.  (b)	No recipient or new tourism project shall receive a total of more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) of these grant funds for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year, and the funds shall be used only for the project specified in the application required under subsection (a) of this section.
SECTION 1.  (c)	Funds appropriated under this section but not used after 24 months shall revert to the General Fund.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.