Operations-2017-Economic Group of Kittitas County

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Tourism -Related Facility Operational Funding Narrative (Municipality Applications Only) 1. Operational Spending: Please explain your request for operational funding and how it is directly related to supporting the operations of a tourism -related facility owned or operated by a municipality or public facilities district. This request is for several different line items, all of which are directly related to supporting the operations of a tourism -related facility owned or operated by a municipality, or for use by the county in supporting and increasing tourism, or for use by the county in operating this and other grant programs. Each line item is discussed below: A. Kittitas Valley Event Center Operations - $100,000 The Kittitas Valley Event Center is a tourism -related facility located in Ellensburg which is owned and operated by Kittitas County. It is the home of the largest single tourism -related event each year in the County: the Kittitas County Fair and the Ellensburg Rodeo. Additionally, the Event Center also hosts numerous events throughout the year which attract tourists to Kittitas County including equestrian events, other rodeo events, dog shows, rabbit shows, the Northwest Fly Fishing Show, Junktiquen, and many more. The impact to the tourism economy directly resulting from the events held at the Kittitas Valley Event Center is enormous. These funds will be utilized to help pay for the ongoing costs to operate this facility. The total expense budget for the Kittitas Valley Event Center is $1,026,822. This request has been ongoing for several years as a portion of the Event Center's operational budget. It has not increased since its inception. B. Kittitas County Administrative Costs - $20,000 Kittitas County is requesting funding to offset the administrative costs associated with managing this and the other lodging tax grant programs as well as organizing the operations of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). There are a total of three grant programs and various other aspects to the County's involvement in the tourism industry which require oversight by accounting, legal, and administrative personnel. The County manages all aspects of the Consolidated Lodging Tax Grants for Special Events and Projects, including logistics, funding, reimbursements, and contract management. The County employs a part- time administrative clerk to assist with the LTAC. This funding is not directly related to supporting the operations of a tourism -related facility owned or operated by a municipality but it is directly related to the county's work in supporting and increasing tourism.