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Collaboration*Yes,KEEN partners with several groups in Kittitas County and across the state to promote and encourage tourism. For Bird Fest we specifically partner with Seattle,Kittitas and Yakima County Audubon groups and the Kittitas County Field and Stream Club.These organizations provide expertise,field trip leaders,event volunteers,and planning committee members. We also work with CWU interns and professors,expert field trip leaders from around the state,and WA State Parks for the location of the event.This event would not be successful without these partnerships! We also partner with Canyon River Ranch Lodge for the dinner,auction,and social gathering for the event. 2500 character Ibt 5|Future Plans Please explain what plans exist to allow this project to become self-sustaining.Include any plans for ticket sales,event sponsors,and other cost-recovery models. Future Plans*KEEN increased sponsorship levels,vendor's fees,and other cost-covering fees for participation in 2018. As the event grows we believe that our sponsorship levels will increase and we will attract more vendors over time causing this to continue to be a revenue positive event for KEEN and eventually to become self-sustaining. As happens in the bird-watching world,once an event is established,birders start to look for event details earlier and earlier (we have in fact,as of this writing,already heard from several birders looking for 2020 details). 2500 character limit Application Questions:Part 4 6|Additional Information Provide any additional information which will assist the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee in evaluating your project and its benefit to tourism. Additional Information Unfortunately KEEN was not be able to undertake the Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest in 2019 and was forced to decline the lodging tax funding we were awarded. The Washington Ornithological Society planned their annual meeting and field trips (essentially the exact same model as our event)for the same weekend in Moses Lake.Many of our field trip leaders are members with that organization and could not attend both.We could not move our weekend due to other conflicting dates within our organization and,other nearby bird festivals.WOS moves their conference location every year,but this year it happened to conflict with ours. We were intensely disappointed,and expressed our concerns to WOS clearly,but ultimately decided that we couldn't compete with something so similar so close by. Please express our deep appreciation to the members of the combined Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.We are thankful for their support and look forward to applying again for 2020 and having another successful Bird Fest! 2500 character lirrit