A&P Commission will consider funding requests

At its first meeting of 2017, the Arkansas-side Advertising and Promotion Commission will consider several new funding requests and revisit others made last year.

The commission will hear requests from 1894 LLC, Regional Music Heritage Center and Ultimate Challenge Productions/CBR Horizon at the meeting, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday in City Hall, 216 Walnut St.

Also on the agenda are consideration of a contract

with Texarkana Chamber of Commerce and approval of a funding request by Texarkana Airport Authority. Both issues are left over from the commission’s latest annual allocation, which took place in October 2016.

The commission at that time granted the Chamber of Commerce $25,000 pending a contract between the two organizations, requested by the commission. A contract will ensure compliance with state law regarding public funding of chambers of commerce, commission legal counsel Josh Potter said.

A potential allocation of at least $120,000 to Texarkana Airport Authority has been under legal review. At question is whether building a new terminal at Texarkana Regional Airport constitutes capital improvement, which by state law A&P commissions are prohibited from funding. Potter said in October that he would seek guidance on the matter from the Arkansas attorney general.

Other agenda items include reviewing a funding request by the city of Texarkana, 2016 fourth-quarter expenditures and applicants to fill the commission’s vacant positions.

The commission authorizes use of revenues from the city’s hotel and restaurant taxes, 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Allocated funds must be used in support of the city’s tourism and hospitality industries.