SB 840 Summary

• Appropriates $12,000,000 in nonrecurring funds to the Department of Commerce for fiscal year 2016-2017 to promote tourism and foreign investment in North Carolina.

• Allocates funds as follows: $8,500,000 for domestic marketing and advertising, $2,500,000 for international marketing, $500,000 for sports events marketing, $250,000 for retiree attraction marketing, and $250,000 for film tourism marketing.

• Permits funds to be used for media purchases, direct-to-consumer promotion, research assessments, digital analytics, audience segmentation analysis, and social media strategy development.

• Requires the Department of Commerce to submit a report by October 1, 2017 to the Joint Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight Committee and Fiscal Research Division detailing returns on investment and tourism gains by geographic area and market segment.

• Takes effect July 1, 2016.