15 CAR Part 370 — Festival Advertising Grants Program

Chapter XXVI

Subchapter A

Subpart 1

15 CAR § 370-101 Statement of intent {#sec-15-car-370-101 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-370--15 CAR § 370-101}

15 CAR § 370-101. Statement of intent.

It is the intent of this grant program to supplement the advertising of festivals run by small cities or communities that have minimal advertising funds.

15 CAR § 370-102 Festival Advertising Grants Program eligibility {#sec-15-car-370-102 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-370--15 CAR § 370-102}

15 CAR § 370-102. Festival Advertising Grants Program eligibility.

(a) Incorporated Arkansas cities with a population of less than ten thousand five hundred (10,500), as established by the most recent federal decennial census, or unincorporated communities (applying through the county) are eligible to apply.

(b) Entities awarded grants will become vendors of the state.

(c) No more than one (1) grant may be awarded to a city/community per fiscal year.

(d) To be eligible, the festival must:

(1) Be open to the public;

(2) Have no charge for admission, either by:

(A) Money;

(B) Donation; or

(C) Otherwise; and

(3) Be a recurring annual event in existence for at least one (1) year prior to applying for the grant.

15 CAR § 370-103 Grant awards {#sec-15-car-370-103 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-370--15 CAR § 370-103}

15 CAR § 370-103. Grant awards.

(a)(1) One hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) will be divided equally among the six (6) destination marketing areas (DMAs) as defined by the Tourism Division of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.

(2) If there is a shortage of qualified grant applications in a DMA, the funds can be distributed to other DMAs.

(b)(1) Grants may be awarded in amounts up to five thousand dollars ($5,000), with no matching funds required.

(2) Proof of performance must be submitted within ninety (90) days following the event.

(c)(1) Grants ranging from a minimum of five thousand one dollars ($5,001) to a maximum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000):

(A) Must use matching funds; and

(B) Will be disbursed in two installments.

(2) An initial payment of five thousand dollars ($5,000) will be provided upfront.

(3)(A) The remaining balance, up to an additional five thousand dollars ($5,000), will be reimbursed upon submission of proof of performance demonstrating that at least two-thirds (2/3) of the grant amount above five thousand dollars ($5,000) was used for eligible advertising expenses.

(B) Total reimbursement will not exceed the awarded grant amount.

(d) This section shall apply for grants to be awarded in fiscal year 2026 and following years.

History

• History: Ark. R. 2025-28 (eff. December 4, 2025) Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-11-205

15 CAR § 370-104 Grant periods — Application deadlines {#sec-15-car-370-104 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-370--15 CAR § 370-104}

15 CAR § 370-104. Grant periods — Application deadlines.

(a) Beginning in fiscal year 2027, the application period will open annually in January of each year.

(b) Grant recipients will be notified on or before May 1, with funding to be available July 1 for advertising purchased between July 1 and June 30 of the following year.

History

• History: Ark. R. 2025-28 (eff. December 4, 2025) Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-11-205

15 CAR § 370-105 Application review and requirements {#sec-15-car-370-105 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-370--15 CAR § 370-105}

15 CAR § 370-105. Application review and requirements.

(a)(1) Applications will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the Director of the Tourism Division of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to include, but not be limited to employees of the Tourism Division of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.

(2) The committee will present recommendations to the director for final decision.

(b)(1) Applications should be digitally submitted.

(2) All applications must be accompanied by:

(A) The festival’s operational budget;

(B) An itemized advertising plan;

(C) A statement of the minutes or administrative order from the governing city or county board approving the grant request; and

(D) A statement affirming the amount of funds held by or committed for the purchase of said advertising.

History

• History: Ark. R. 2025-28 (eff. December 4, 2025) Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-11-205

15 CAR § 370-106 Use of funds — Required statements for advertisements {#sec-15-car-370-106 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-370--15 CAR § 370-106}

15 CAR § 370-106. Use of funds — Required statements for advertisements.

(a) Funds must be used to buy advertising:

(1) Magazine;

(2) Newspaper;

(3) Radio;

(4) Television;

(5) Online;

(6) Posters;

(7) Flyers; or

(8) Billboards.

(b) Purchase of supplies, clothing, or other items that could be used for resale will not be approved for funding.

(c)(1) All advertising purchased with grant money, excluding billboards, must include the following statement: “This ad paid for in part by AR Dept. of Parks, Heritage & Tourism. For more information on festivals in Arkansas, visit Arkansas.com.”

(2) In print advertising, the statement must be no smaller than eight (8) points.

(3) In audio advertising, the statement must not be under five (5) seconds in duration.

(d) Billboard ads must include the following statement large enough to be legible from the highway:

“Visit Arkansas.com for more events in The Natural State!”

History

• History: Ark. R. 2025-28 (eff. December 4, 2025) Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-11-205

15 CAR § 370-107 Grant fund disbursement {#sec-15-car-370-107 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-370--15 CAR § 370-107}

15 CAR § 370-107. Grant fund disbursement.

(a)(1) To disperse payment of grant, the Tourism Division of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism must digitally receive all required documentation no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the conclusion of the festival.

(2) For advertising that runs or is purchased on or after May 15, the digital documentation must be received before June 28 to be processed and paid by end of fiscal year.

(b) Failure to meet required deadlines will result in forfeiting grant funding.

(c) To request payment of grant, the grant recipient must provide each of the following to the division:

(1) Request for payment form, completed and signed by grant recipient;

(2) Digital copy of invoice made out to the grant recipient (city/county) from the service provider;

(3) Digital copy of proof of payment from grant recipient (city/county) to the service provider; and

(4) Proof of performance.

(d) The following will serve as proof of performance:

(1) Newspapers/magazines.

(A) Digital copy of original tear sheets of the page where the ad was placed.

(B) The sheet should have the publication name and issue date on it.

(C) If the publication name and issue date are not on the tear sheet, the entire issue must be provided;

(2) Radio/television.

(A) Digital copies of the performance affidavits signed by the station manager and signed and stamped by a notary.

(B) A digital copy of the ad as it ran on the station;

(3) Billboard. Digital copy of both the ad on the billboard at the location plus the invoice verifying the location and dates of display;

(4) Poster/flyer. Digital copy of the poster/flyer; and

(5) Online ads.

(A) A digital screenshot of the ad as it appears on the site to include the URL.

(B) Digital copies of the analytics for the length of the ad run, as provided by the service provider, to include, but not be limited to:

(i) Exit links to festival site; and

(ii) Page views.

(e) If an advertising agency is used, a digital copy of the agency invoice made out to the grant recipient (city/county) must also be provided.

History

• History: Ark. R. 2025-28 (eff. December 4, 2025) Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-11-205