Major Events Incentive Program
What is the Major Events Incentive Program (MEIP)?
A program created by the Legislature* for the purpose of providing grant funding to attract, bid for, and host events which will have a significant positive impact on economic development in Louisiana.
*see La. R.S. 51:160
Who can apply?
• Event producer
• Event host
• Local organizing committee
• Endorsing municipality or parish
• Tourism commission or Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Destination marketing organization
Which events are eligible?
Only "Qualified Major Events" are eligible for funding. These are defined by the Legislature as:
• NFL Super Bowl
• NCAA Final Four Tournament game
• NCAA Division I Football post-season bowl game
• College tournament or championship
• Any NCAA conference, convention, or conference media event
• A football kickoff game between two NCAA teams
• NBA All-Star Game
• The Bayou Classic
• The Essence Festival
• X-Games
• The World Games
• An Olympic activity (junior or senior activity), training program, or feeder program sanctioned by the United States Olympic Committee
• A mixed martial arts championship
• Breeder's Cup World Championships
• Bassmaster's Classic
• Zurich Classic or other PGA Tour event
• WWE Wrestlemania
• A national motorsports race
• Red Bull Signature Series
• A national championship or Olympic trials of an amateur or professional sport sanctioned by the national governing body of the sport
• A national collegiate championship of an amateur sport
• Must be sanctioned by the national governing body of the sport
• Governing body must be United States Olympic Committee
• A national military event
• A national political convention of the Republican National Committee or the Democratic National Committee
Are there additional eligibility criteria?
• The site chosen for the Event must be in Louisiana
• The site chosen for the Event must be selected through a bidding or invitation selection process
• The site selected must be the sole site for the event, or the sole site for the event in a region composed of Louisiana and at least one other state
• The Event is held only once per year (Exceptions may be made if circumstances such as a natural disaster, pandemic, or other catastrophe call for the Event to be rescheduled)
How are the award amounts determined?
The award amount for each Event shall be determined by the LOT and will be based on the projected value of the proposed advertising and promotional expense along with the projected incremental increase to the state sales and use receipts and the excise tax receipts in the designated area for the Event.
How is the MEIP funded?
The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget shall determine the portion of the incremental tax increase reported by the lieutenant governor which shall be transferred into the fund.
What are the pre-event reporting requirements?
Funding applications must include data indicating the anticipated economic impact of the Event, such as projected increase in sales taxes, use receipts, excise taxes, projected attendance, projected spending by attendees, and other anticipated expenditures generated by the Event.
What are the post-event reporting requirements?
Within 60 days after the conclusion of the Event, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall submit an economic analysis (LOT intends to contract with an in-state public university to conduct such analyses) to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. This analysis must include: area impacted by the Event, total incremental increase in sales taxes and use receipts, and the total incremental increase in excise tax receipts.
On or before September 1st of each year, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall submit an annual report to JLCB. This report will list award recipients and amounts in the previous fiscal year, as well as the economic impact of each Event funded by MEIP.
Can an applicant receive funding from both MEIP and additional funding from another Louisiana Office of Tourism program, such as a Sponsorship, (Non-Major) Events Incentive Program, or Competitive Grant Program?
No. The rules for the MEIP state that recipients are not permitted to receive funding from multiple funding sources administered by the LOT for the same event.
When are applications due?
Applications must be submitted not earlier than three years and not later than 270 days before* the date the event begins. LOT will make a determination no later than 30 days after receiving a completed application.
*This deadline is waived until the Emergency Rules are made permanent.
What types of activities and expenses may the MEIP fund?
Only allowable expenses shall be paid or reimbursed through MEIP. LOT determines which expenses are allowable. These may include but are not limited to:
• Hosting Fee, application fee, or bid fee
• Venue rentals
• Storage rental units
• Equipment rentals and purchases
• Venue facility upgrades
• Advertising
• Décor and signage
• Shipping and postage
• Contracted event-specific staffing (shall not apply to wages or salaries of permanent, full-time employees of the applicant)
• Telecommunications
• Transportation (refers to transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment during and directly related to the actual staging and implementation of the event itself)
Expenses that are NOT allowable include:
• Alcohol
• Food/Beverage
• Inter-city travel
• Housing/lodging
Download the application here. To read complete list of MEIP rules, please go here. Please email [email protected] with any questions.