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Kittitas County,Washington <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />Disifict One District Turi Dilirict T1:rcc <br />|ut ure Posi Jewell 1.aura Osiadact Obie O'Brien <br />February 27,2017 <br />Senator Jim Honeyford <br />112 Irv NewhouseBuilding <br />PO Box 40415 <br />Olympia,WA 9804 <br />HonorableSenator Honeyford: <br />We are writing to you today to express our support for two Capital Budget requests for projects in Kittilas <br />Coumy:the Kinitas Valley Event Center Facilities Upgrade(submitted by RepresentativeManweller)and <br />the Washington State Horse Park CoveredArena and Associated Build-Out (submitted by Senator <br />Wamiek). <br />Located in Cle Elum,the I 12-acre Washington State Horse Park attracts over 30 thousand visitors per <br />year,95 percent of whom are nonlocal-a stalistic that uniquely characterizes the Park's impact:over $2.5 <br />million in ovemight stays.Total economic impact of the Park,including day visitors,is $3.4 million.The <br />Washington State Horse Park is a valuable economic asset in Upper Kittitas County.We continue to <br />support it every year with local funding that helps with operational costs and projects.Fmther <br />developmentof this facility will provide significant additional benefit in our rural county. <br />'flic Kittitas Valley Event Center is located in Ellensburg and is the home of the World Famous Ellensburg <br />Rodeo and Kittitas County Fair.For nearly one hundred years,this event has attracted tourists to Kitritas <br />County for several days over Labor Day Weekend -nearly 60 thousand in 2016.This facilky also <br />operates year-round,providing facilities for a variety of events large and small that create significant <br />economic benefit to the City of EIIensburgand the surrounding Kittitas County. <br />In addition to the financial benefits of the Kittitas Valley Event Center and the Washington State Horse <br />Park,both projects embody the vision ofour County's ComprehensivePlan.Agritourism and rural <br />recreation opportunities play an essential role in this plan and facilities such as these are consistent with <br />preservingthe agricultural industry as well as rural character. <br />Thank you for your consideration of these important projects, <br />Res - <br />'ity. <br />ABSENT <br />m well La siaS.Obie O'Brien <br />Chairman Vice<hairman Commissioner <br />Ce:Senator Judy Wamick <br />Representative Matt Manweller <br />Representative Tom Dent <br />Kn·ITTAS COUNTY COURT110USE 205 WESTS$SUITE 108 -ELLENSBURG.WA98926 <br />(509)%2-7508 -FAX (509)962-1679 <br />www.co.kkidas.wa.us