50 Cent’s Humor & Harmony Fest: Shreveport Event Could Get State Funding!

Will there be another Humor and Harmony Festival in Shreveport this year? Mayor Tom Arceneaux tells KEEL News he does not think there will be an event this year, but says it will likely return in the spring. We don’t have confirmation yet from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The first event was held in Shreveport in August of last year and it was HOT. I can only imaging 50 Cent will likely choose a date that won’t be as steamy, at least in terms of weather.

But we do know the bill has passed in the house and is on its way back to the senator for a final vote. The bill would make it possible for Jackson to get state funding to host this event in Shreveport. SB 201 provides state dollars of up to $250,000 for a long list of events that bring crowd and money to our state.

What Events Are Included in this Louisiana Incentive Law?

The House-passed bill would include all the big sporting events like the Super Bowl, the Bayou Classic, an Olympic Event and the Final Four but it would also include many other specialty events like World Wide Wrestling, golf tournaments, a boating event and many other regional events that would now be eligible for state dollars.

The House passed an amendment to put the Humor and Harmony Festival on the list. The State Fair of Louisiana has also been included.

READ MORE: Will 50 Cent Bid on Downtown Building on Auction Block?

The law says the event must “have significant positive impact to the state.” The dollars would come from the “Major Events Incentive Fund”.

Events that get state dollars would be required to “make all records related to the costs associated with attracting and hosting the qualified major event available for inspection.”

How Much Can Louisiana Events Get from this Fund?

If Humor and Harmony Weekend is going to happen this year, organizers might wanna get moving on putting in an application. This new law requires applicants to submit the request “no later than 180 days prior to the event to be considered.” Once approved, the events are eligible to get up to 25% of the total cost of throwing the event with a cap of $250,000 dollars.

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The measure passed in the House on an 81-9. Shreveport area representatives Michael Melerine, Dodie Horton and Danny McCormick voted against this bill.

Once the senate concurs on the amendments, this measure would go into effect on August 1.