Section 510.20  Definitions

The following definitions are applicable to this Part:

"Act":  means the Illinois Promotion Act [20 ILCS 665].

"Applicant":  means an organization, unit of local government or other eligible entity, as defined in Section 510.110, 510.210, 510.310 or 510.410, submitting a written request for Program funds appropriated under the Act.

"Application":  means a written request for grant funds containing the required information and attachments.

"Convention Center Authority": means an Authority, as defined by the Civic Center Code [70 ILCS 200/2-5], that operates a municipal convention center with contiguous exhibition space ranging between 30,000 and 125,000 square feet. [20 ILCS 665/3(h)]

"Department":  means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity of the State of Illinois [20 ILCS 665/3(a)].

"Director":  means the Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Economic Impact":  means the direct financial result of visitor spending at a tourism destination, attraction or event.

"Eligible Project":  means a project that is eligible for funding as defined in Sections 510.120, 510.220, and 510.320.

"Festival": means an organized series of public activities for a specific duration that may include, but are not limited to, cultural performances, exhibitions, fairs, or carnivals that may include music and the service of food and beverages.

"Fiscal Year":  means July 1 through June 30, the Fiscal Year of the State of Illinois.

"Grant Agreement":  means a written document executed between the Grantee and the Department setting forth the obligations of the Parties, describing the purpose of the grant, identifying the manner in which Grant Funds will be paid and expended, specifying the grant terms during which Grant Funds may be expended, and requiring unspent Grant Funds to be returned to the State.

"Grant Amount" or "Grant Funds":  means a monetary amount that the Department shall award to a Grantee for its expenditure on an Eligible Project.

"Grantee":  means an organization, unit of local government or other eligible entity, as defined in Section 510.110, 510.210 or 510.310, eligible to receive Program funds appropriated under the Act.

"Incentive": means:

an incentive provided by a municipal convention center or convention center authority for a convention, meeting, or trade show held at a municipal convention center that, but for the incentive, would not have occurred in the State or been retained in the State; or

an incentive provided by a unit of local government for a sporting event held at a municipal amateur sports facility that, but for the incentive, would not have occurred in the State or been retained in the State. [20 ILCS 665/3(i)]

"Ineligible Project":  means a project that is ineligible for funding as defined in Sections 510.120, 510.220 and 510.320.

"In Kind Contribution":  means noncash contributions necessary to complete the Project for which the cash value is easily documented (i.e., donated labor, equipment, supplies and materials), and that are eligible grant and match line-item expenditures identified in the budget of the Grant Agreement.

"Local Promotion Group":  means any non-profit corporation, organization, association, agency or committee thereof formed for the primary purpose of publicizing, promoting, advertising or otherwise encouraging the development of tourism in any Municipality, county or region of Illinois.  [20 ILCS 665/3(b)]

"Matching Funds":  means the portion of the Total Project Cost that is provided by the Grantee. Matching Funds shall not be funds from other Department funded grant programs or used to match any other grant, and are necessary and irrevocably obligated to the Project.

"Municipal Amateur Sports Facility": means a sports facility that:

is owned by a unit of local government;

has contiguous indoor sports competition space;

is designed to principally accommodate and host amateur competitions for youths, adults, or both; and

is not used for professional sporting events for which participants are compensated for their participation. [20 ILCS 665/3(f)]

"Municipal Convention Center": means a convention center or civic center owned by a unit of local government or operated by a convention center authority, or a municipal convention hall as defined in Section 11-65-1(1) of the Illinois Municipal Code [65 ILCS 5], with contiguous exhibition space ranging between 30,000 and 125,000 square feet. [20 ILCS 665/3(g)]

"Municipality":  means "Municipality" as defined in Section 1-1-2(1) of the Illinois Municipal Code.  [20 ILCS 665/3(d)]

"Office of Tourism":  means the division of the Department that has delegated authority to perform all administrative functions relating to the Act.

"Private Sector":  means any non-governmental entity.

"Program":  means the Tourism Marketing Partnership Program, Tourism Attraction Development Loan and Grant Program, or the Tourism Private Sector Grant Program described in this Part.

"Project":  means the activity or program of activities, described by the Applicant in the Application and approved by the Department, for which a grant is awarded.

"Promotional Activities" means:

preparing, planning and conducting campaigns of information, advertising and publicity through such media as newspapers, radio, television, magazines, trade journals, moving and still photography, posters, outdoor signboards and personal contact within and without the State of Illinois;

dissemination of information, advertising, publicity, photographs and other literature and material designed to carry out the purpose of the Act; and

participation in and attendance at meetings and conventions concerned primarily with tourism, including travel to and from those meetings. [20 ILCS 665/3(c)]

"Supporting Visitor Services":  means accommodations, restaurants, shopping, and recreational and cultural activities located within a reasonable distance from the location of the Tourism Attraction, Tourism Destination or Tourism Event being promoted. 

"Total Project Cost":  means all necessary and reasonable costs related to the completion of the Project as identified in the budget of the Grant Agreement.

"Tourism":  means travel 50 miles or more one-way, or an overnight trip outside of a person's normal routine.  [20 ILCS 665/3(e)]

"Tourism Attraction":  means fishing and hunting areas, State parks, historical/cultural sites, areas of historic or scenic interest, museums, recreation areas, botanical gardens, theme/amusement parks, interpretive programs and other facilities or businesses that attract or serve visitors that are open to the public for a minimum of 100 days per year (if the Tourism Attraction is entirely event driven, then it shall be open for a minimum of 200 hours per year), and are marketed and promoted to visitors from more than 50 miles away.

"Tourism Destination":  means a city, town or other area the economy of which is dependent on revenues accruing from tourism.

"Tourism Event":  means an event, such as a major convention, trade show, sporting activity or festival, with potential to attract visitors from outside a 50-mile radius and to produce significantly increased Economic Impact for the State of Illinois through overnight stays.

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 11991, effective July 1, 2022)