Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §13073-B is enacted to read:

§13073-B.__Regional Tourism Promotion Grant Program

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Office" means the Office of Tourism and Community Development within the Department of Economic and Community Development.

B.__"Region" means any of the following 8 regions of the State as designated by the office:

(1)__Southern Maine coast;

(2)__Greater Portland and Casco Bay area;

(3)__Mid-coast;

(4)__Maine lakes and mountains;

(5)__Katahdin, Moosehead and Penquis;

(6)__Kennebec and Moose River valleys;

(7)__Downeast Acadia; or

(8)__Aroostook.

2.__Program established.__The Regional Tourism Promotion Grant Program, referred to in this section as the "program," is established within the office to provide grants for the promotion of regional tourism in the State.

3.__Grant criteria.__The office shall use the following criteria in determining an organization's eligibility for grants under the program:

A.__The organization applying for the grant represents the broad interests of the region;

B.__There is regular, dues-paying support for the organization from businesses and municipal governments within the region;