What is the Magnolia A&P Commission?

When you see new flowers blooming downtown, kids splashing in the water at the park, or crowds gathering for the Magnolia Blossom Festival, chances are the Magnolia Advertising and Promotion Commission (A&P Commission) has played a role in making it happen. 

The A&P Commission was created to oversee the tax collected from hotel, motel, and short-term rental stays. By law, those funds must be used to promote tourism, support

conventions, and enhance activities that bring visitors and business to our community. The guidelines are clear: money can be spent on things like advertising the city, operating tourism facilities, or supporting the arts, but not on the city’s general operating costs or unrelated capital projects. 

The results speak for themselves. Since 2022, the A&P Commission has invested $220,850 into Magnolia’s parks, helping to fund the splash pad, skate park, additional pickleball courts, and a new basketball court. Amenities that serve both residents and visitors. 

In 2024 alone, the Commission provided over $200,000 to community and nonprofit events. That support made it possible for the Magnolia Blossom Festival, Pedals for Compassion, the Downtown Merchant Fall Festival, and Magnolia Arts events to thrive and attract audiences. 

The work doesn’t stop there. The A&P Commission helps keep our city looking its best and shining bright, funding projects like the downtown flower displays, the Christmas lights around the courthouse, and the Magnolia Living Guide that promotes our community to newcomers and tourists alike. 

Simply put, the A&P Commission is an engine for growth and quality of life in Magnolia. It reinvests its funds into projects that make our city more vibrant, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone. 

To learn more about what the Commission does and how its funds are used, visit www.magnolia-ar.com/174/AP-Commission. 

Written by the Magnolia Advertising and Promotion Commission