§ 153. Explore New York state grant program. 1. The department shall
create a new grant program designed to encourage an integrated thematic
approach to tourism promotion. The program shall provide state matching
funds to eligible entities not to exceed fifty thousand dollars
annually. Eligible entities shall include two or more counties, or a
series or collection of thematically related entities, choosing to
market multiple, thematically related assets or activities in a single
marketing campaign. The commissioner is directed to establish guidelines
and an application process.

2. The New York state tourism advisory council shall review requests
for proposals and will recommend project applications deemed to meet the
intent of the program to the department.

3. Grantees will report semiannually to the department on activities
and progress of the grant. The department shall report annually pursuant
to subdivision three of section one hundred fifty-one of this article.
Nothing in this article shall prohibit any county, or any entities
within the counties of the state from receiving multiple grants under
the program in a single year provided that they are for separate and
distinct marketing campaigns.