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og de Eh Telephone:(509)674-2262119WestFirstStreetFax:(509)674-4097CleElum,WA 98922 ,www.cityofoleelum.com <br />I OF Tgi <br />February 27,2017 <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 the Mayor of the City of Cle Elum,1 believe the tourism economy of our state isextremelyimportanttous.I urge you to support the Washington (WA)State Horse Parkapplicationfor$2,0 million in capital funding support for a Covered Arena and AssociatedBuild-Our submitted by the WA State Horse Park Authority. <br />Located in Cle Elam and in operation for 6 years,the 1 12-acre Horse Park is adestinationvenueamonghorsefacilitiesinourstateandalreadyattractsover30thousandvisitorsperyear,95 percent of whom are nonlocaL Events held at the facility provide asignificantboosttoourcommunity.The Park's ability to draw people from outside the local <br />area uniquely characterizes the Park's impact:over $2.5 milion in overnight stays.TotaleconomicimpactofthePark,including day visitors,is $3.4 million.The Covered Arena willallowtheParktoattractmorehorsedisciplines,host larger shows and extend the its operating <br />season from five to nine months,significantly increasing the size and number of events held at <br />the Park, <br />Cle Elum is in Kittitas County,where over 18 percent of jobs are in the Accommodations <br />and Foodservice Sector (Kittitas County Prqfile,Meseek,regional labor economist,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 />Jay cGowan <br />Mayor <br />City of Cle Elum