2017-002-EDA-year round events-Revised

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APPLICATION. QUESTIONS Please answer each question completely, in the order listed, on a separate sheet attached to this application. Please include any supporting data within the response narrative. 1. Please provide a description of your project/event and identify the specific tourism audience/market that your organization will target with these funds. You must include an itemized list of exactly how any grant funds awarded will be utilized. The Ellensburg Downtown Association (EDA) has been the city's lead agency for downtown revitalization for many years. The EDA follows the National Main Street Center Four Point Approach to help Ellensburg put its best foot forward into the future. Successful projects have included new, unique downtown street furniture; new bike racks (2016); generation of key development issues like the Geddis building and potential downtown hotel; new holiday street and building lights; a new website; updated downtown maps; a variety of events (i.e. Buskers in the Burg, Hoedown in the Downtown, Hometown Holidays, Girls Night Out, etc.); entrepreneur development; and more, Downtown vacancy rates are at a historic low, merchants revenues are up, and our economic outlook is strong. In the past six years, due in part to the efforts of the EDA, the downtown has experienced a net gain of 32 businesses and more than $6 million in mostly private investment. The EDA has distributed over 60,000 downtown maps and has logged more than 18,000 volunteer hours, Each year, the EDA works to expand its outreach to build partnerships and market the downtown. Thousands of people visit and enjoy downtown Ellensburg annually because of its unique and authentic historic structures; great restaurants, museums, galleries, shopping, and pedestrian amenities; and its many successful events. Downtown Ellensburg has become a destination through the great work of many, including the EDA and the Tourism Office. This application for Lodging Tax will assist the EDA in promoting the downtown and the events that bring people to downtown. While some of our events are locally based, many are beginning to have regional draw and are adding to the tourism base. In addition, we will be adding a few new events this year to attract new audiences to Ellensburg. Enhancing downtown Ellensburg's offerings is directly in line with the County Tourism plan. Target audiences include those interested in Heritage Tourism; empty nesters and families looking for weekend travel and outdoor recreation; music enthusiasts (Buskers and Hoedown); dog enthusiasts (Dachshunds); bicycle enthusiasts (Like to Bike); and families of CWU students. Primary markets for advertising will include Yakima, the Tri -cities, Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Spokane, and Seattle/Tacoma. For the events listed below, lodging tax monies will be used for social media campaigns, direct mailings to areas outside of the county, enhancements to the Dachshunds on Parade website, maps of the downtown for hotels and conferences, event entertainment, and TV, print and radio advertising: February or March (NEW!) —The EDA has been meeting with local restaurants to help create downtown as a dining destination. Two activities we are currently facilitating is to assist local restaurants to connect with area farmers to order local produce and grains. Sourcing local is a great way to market and connect with diners. The second activity being planned is a Restaurant Week in February or March. This is a nation- wide trend where participating restaurants each create a one -price, three -course meal available for one week, with the meals advertised together as a single event. This could be marketed as a package with a hotel stay to the west side and tri -cities. County -wide Lodging Tax Application Page 110