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<section article="gec" article_name="Economic Development" number="10-612.1" future_version_removed="true" title_number="10" title_name="Statewide Development Resources and Revenue Authorities" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Maryland Stadium Authority">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Fund” means the Michael Erin Busch Sports Fund established under § 10–612.2 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Program” means the Youth and Amateur Sports Grants Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is a Youth and Amateur Sports Grants Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The purpose of the Program is to provide grants from the Fund to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>bring new youth and amateur sporting events to the State; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>attract sports fans, participants, and tourists.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Maryland Sports shall implement and administer the Program in accordance with this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Maryland Sports may award grants from the Fund to nonprofit organizations, counties, business entities, or individuals to assist with the costs of bringing youth and amateur sporting events to the State, including the costs of capital projects or maintenance.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In awarding grants, Maryland Sports shall give priority to an applicant for a sporting event that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>has demonstrated financial support from a county; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>has provided assurance that a majority of the needed funding has been raised from private sources.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>To the extent practicable, Maryland Sports shall make awards to grantees that reflect:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the geographic diversity of the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>sports programs that are gender–specific and nonspecific; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>diverse types of sports.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Unless the Authority expressly approves otherwise, the total amount of grants awarded to each nonprofit organization, county, business entity, or individual may not exceed $75,000 in a fiscal year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>In accordance with a budget approved by the Authority, Maryland Sports may use money in the Fund to pay administrative and operating costs of the Program, including costs to market and advertise the Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Authority may adopt regulations to carry out this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
