2017-002-EDA-year round events-Revised

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The EDA will continue to monitor online activity and increases in traffic through Google Analytics and Facebook Insights. In addition, there will be information gathered at the various events through surveys, registration forms, and ZIP code gatherings in businesses. We will also work with the hotels on gathering data on room stays in relation to events. Event surveys will include requests for ZIP codes, how they heard about the event, and whether or not they are staying overnight in a hotel. Surveys done inside of businesses over the summer will ask for a ZIP code, primary reason for travel (if not local), and how many nights they are staying in a hotel. lll. What strategies will you use to assist in marketing all of Kittitas Countyas a tourist destination with your event/project funding request? Links to county -wide tourism websites will be included in all websites. Hometown Holidays will continue to expand upon its inclusion of county -wide activities. The Buskers program will continue to promote other upcoming events throughout the county. The EDA will continue to seek ways to cross -promote. 4. Does your organization have, or have you applied for, grant funding from other sources? If not, why not? If yes, please list the available funding you have for the project, including any volunteer and in-kind sources, and/or the sources and amounts for which you have applied. Please note which funding sources are secured and in hand so a true matching fund determination may be determined. What changes would occur if the project couldn't be funded? The EDA continues to seek additional funding mechanisms for all of its activities. The EDA staff and board of directors are undergoing a formal redevelopment of how we measure the success and growth of our organization. For 2016 it appears we will exceed 2015 actual income for sponsorships, partnerships, grants and other support by 13%. We received the 4th highest amount of Main Street Tax Credit support in the state (up 15% from 2015). The EDA has moved away from its monthly marketing campaign due to the work already being done by the Tourism Office. Instead, we are focusing more on promoting the activities of the EDA directly. While we continue to seek out additional support via sponsors and partners, the Lodging Tax monies we receive are vital to sustaining the extensive list of EDA -related activities and events that bring patrons to the downtown. Much of our funding for 2017 will be secured at the first of the year through the Main Street Tax Credit program, but because of the limited amount of tax credits available state-wide, we are uncertain as to the amount. Without the Lodging Tax funding, we will be unable to fully fund our marketing budget for the year. This marketing budget is essential to bringing people from out of town to EDA activities. The EDA is a leader in helping to create an economically strong downtown Ellensburg, and we are grateful to all of our partners — the City, the Tourism Office, the EBDA, and the Chamber — who help make Ellensburg a great destination for year-round tourism. In the past six years, downtown has seen a net gain of 32 businesses, more than 100 jobs, and more that $6 million in mostly private County -wide Lodging Tax Application Page 114