MS HB842

Extends the deadline for the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to issue certificates approving entities as participants in the Tourism Project Sales Tax Incentive Program from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2020 for non-cultural retail tourism projects.

Cultural retail attraction tourism projects remain ineligible for new certificates from and after July 1, 2014.

Applicants seeking approval must submit a $5,000 application fee along with project plans, financing details, and an independent study documenting anticipated out-of-state visitor numbers and visitor ratios.

The MDA Executive Director reviews applications to determine if projects qualify under program rules and issues certificates to approved participants.

The MDA must arrange for a cost benefit analysis of each tourism project to be performed by a state higher education institution or MDA-approved entity.