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Date:February 28,2017 <br />Senator Jim Honeyford <br />Way and Means,Vice-Chair Capital Budget Committee <br />112 Irv Newhouse Building <br />PO Box 40415 <br />Olympia,WA 98504 <br />Senator Judy Warnick <br />Chair,Economic Development Committee <br />103 Irv Newhouse Building <br />PO Box 40413 <br />Olympia,WA 98504 <br />Re:Washington State Horse Park --Covered Arena Project <br />Dear Senators: <br />As a horse owner and an office-holder/memberof various horse organizations,I gnowof the <br />need to have a quality facility that horse enthusiasts can use.I have seen the progress that has <br />been made on the Horse Park and feel that it is a one-of-a kind venue that can be the number <br />one horse facility in Washington with the potential to attract horse enthusiasts and their <br />families not only from the northwest,but the nation as well.The tourism econon y of our state <br />is extremely important to us and the dollars generated by the horse industry's ush of the Horse <br />Park can have a major positive effect on our state's economy.I urge you to suppdrt the <br />Washington (WA)State Horse Park application for $2.0 million in capital funding upport for a <br />Covered Arena and Associated Build-Out submitted by the WA State Horse Park uthority. <br />Located in Cle Elum and in operation for 6 years,the 112-acre Horse Park is a destination venue <br />among horse facilities in our state and already attracts over 30 thousand visitors per year,95 <br />percent of whom are nonlocal.The Park's ability to draw people from outside the local area <br />uniquely characterizes the Park's impact:over $2.5 million in overnight stays.Total economic <br />impact of the Park,including day visitors,is $3.4 million.The Covered Arena will allow the Park <br />to attract more horse disciplines,host larger shows and extend the its operating season from <br />five to nine months,significantly increasing the size and number of events held at the Park. <br />Cle Elum is in Kittitas County,where over 18 percent of jobs are in the Accommodations and <br />Foodservice Sector (Kittitas County Profile,Meseck,regional labor economist, <br />updated September 2016).The economic impact of the Park is considerable. <br />Thank you for your consideration.I urge the State to fund this important project. <br />Sincerely, <br />Julie Karnath <br />4716 W.14th <br />Kennewick,WA 99338