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The EDA will continue to monitor online activity and increases in traffic through Google Analytics and <br />Facebook Insights. In addition, there will be information gathered at the various events through <br />surveys, registration forms, and ZIP code gatherings in businesses. We will also work with the hotels <br />on gathering data on room stays in relation to events. <br />Event surveys will include requests for ZIP codes, how they heard about the event, and whether or <br />not they are staying overnight in a hotel. Surveys done inside of businesses over the summer will ask <br />for a ZIP code, primary reason for travel (if not local), and how many nights they are staying in a <br />hotel. <br />111. What strategies will you use to assist in marketing all of Kittitas Countyas a tourist <br />destination with your event/project funding request? <br />Links to county -wide tourism websites will be included in all websites. Hometown Holidays <br />will continue to expand upon its inclusion of county -wide activities. The Buskers program <br />will continue to promote other upcoming events throughout the county. The EDA will <br />continue to seek ways to cross -promote. <br />4. Does your organization have, or have you applied for, grant funding from other <br />sources? If not, why not? If yes, please list the available funding you have for the <br />project, including any volunteer and in-kind sources, and/or the sources and amounts <br />for which you have applied. Please note which funding sources are secured and in hand <br />so a true matching fund determination may be determined. What changes would occur <br />if the project couldn't be funded? <br />The EDA continues to seek additional funding mechanisms for all of its activities. The <br />EDA staff and board of directors are undergoing a formal redevelopment of how we <br />measure the success and growth of our organization. For 2016 it appears we will <br />exceed 2015 actual income for sponsorships, partnerships, grants and other support by <br />13%. We received the 4th highest amount of Main Street Tax Credit support in the state <br />(up 15% from 2015). <br />The EDA has moved away from its monthly marketing campaign due to the work <br />already being done by the Tourism Office. Instead, we are focusing more on promoting <br />the activities of the EDA directly. While we continue to seek out additional support via <br />sponsors and partners, the Lodging Tax monies we receive are vital to sustaining the <br />extensive list of EDA -related activities and events that bring patrons to the downtown. <br />Much of our funding for 2017 will be secured at the first of the year through the Main <br />Street Tax Credit program, but because of the limited amount of tax credits available <br />state-wide, we are uncertain as to the amount. <br />Without the Lodging Tax funding, we will be unable to fully fund our marketing budget <br />for the year. This marketing budget is essential to bringing people from out of town to <br />EDA activities. The EDA is a leader in helping to create an economically strong <br />downtown Ellensburg, and we are grateful to all of our partners — the City, the <br />Tourism Office, the EBDA, and the Chamber — who help make Ellensburg a great <br />destination for year-round tourism. In the past six years, downtown has seen a net gain <br />of 32 businesses, more than 100 jobs, and more that $6 million in mostly private <br />County -wide Lodging Tax Application Page 114 <br />