SB 245 – Statewide Sports and Tourism Bid Fund
Authored by Sen. Kyle Walker (R-Indianapolis)
Co-authored by Sens. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen) and Travis Holdman (R-Markle)

Establishes the statewide sports and tourism bid fund to provide funding for the purpose of organizing and holding sports and tourism events in Indiana. Provides that the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) shall administer the fund. Requires the IDDC to annually distribute to the Indiana Sports Corporation a grant amount equal to the amount appropriated by the general assembly to the fund for the state fiscal year. Provides that the Indiana Sports Corporation shall manage the funds in accordance with the general laws of the state relating to the handling of public funds. Requires that the Indiana Sports Corporation ensure that not less than 25% of the money received by the Indiana Sports Corporation each year is used for events that are conducted outside of Marion County. Authorizes the Indiana Sports Corporation to award grants to other eligible entities for the purpose of organizing and holding an event in Indiana. Requires the Indiana Sports Corporation to annually report to the budget committee on the use of the money received from the fund.

Chamber Position: Support

The latest: On January 13, SB 245 received a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee, which Sen. Mishler chairs. The committee “held” the bill as stakeholders collaborate on an amendment to be introduced at next week’s hearing.

Indiana Chamber action/commentary: The intent of the bill is to establish a fund that will increase Indiana’s odds of winning bids for sporting events, trade shows, conventions and other similar events.

This bill only establishes the structure of the fund and how it will be managed. There is no appropriation contained in the bill, which gives stakeholders until next budget session to determine the amount necessary to ensure Indiana’s competitiveness.

More specifically, the fund will be financed with a state appropriation, as well as grants, gifts and donations. The Indiana Sports Corporation, led by Ryan Vaughn, will manage the fund and field grant requests from local nonprofit sports commissions, destination management organizations, colleges and universities and other organizing committees.

In recent years and months, Indiana and its communities have lost bids to competitors due, in large part, because they had access to a bid fund like the one contemplated by SB 245, according to Chris Gahl, executive director of Visit Indy – including a high school STEM competition, Paralympics qualifiers and the Olympic swimming national trials.

I testified on behalf of the Chamber and argued that this bill will serve as a catalyst to increase tourism in the state, which could be a precursor to Indiana attracting new residents – a key factor in the future of Indiana’s economic development strategy. For example, some of the over 2,500 high school students competing in the national STEM competition could be lured to Indiana for college and end up staying here after graduation. This is a key demographic the state needs to attract to satisfy the current and future workforce needs of our employers.

Resource: Adam H. Berry at (317) 264-6892 or e-mail: aberry@indianachamber.com