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0ate: February28,2A17 <br />SenatorJim lioneyford <br />Way and Means, Vice{hair Capital Budget Committee <br />112 lrv Newhouse Building <br />PO Box 40415 <br />Olympia, WA 98504 <br />Senatcr Judy Warnick <br />Chair, feonornir Devdopment Committee <br />103 lrv Newhouse Euilding <br />P0 Bsx 40413 <br />Olympia, WA 98504 <br />Re: Washington $tate llorse Park * Covered Arena project <br />Dear Senat$rt: <br />,As a horse owil€r and an office-holder/msmber of various horse organizations, t know of the <br />need ta have a quallty faeility that herse enthusiasts can use. t have seen the progres$ that has <br />been rnade on the Horse Fark and feelthat it is a one-of-a kind venue that can be the nurnber <br />one horse facility in Wa:lrington with the Bstential to attract harse enthusiasts and thejr <br />farnilies not only frorn the nofihwest, but the nation as well. The tourisrn econsrny of our state <br />is extremely irnportant tp us and the dollars g*nerated by the horse induslry's use of the Hors* <br />Park can have a malar positive effeet on our stale's economy. I urge you to support the <br />Washington {WA}State Hsrse Park applicatipr for $a.c mlllion in caBital fundlng support fsr a <br />€avered Arena and Assaciated Suild-Ouf svbmitted by the WA State Horse park Authority. <br />located in Cle Elurn and in operaticn for 6 years, the 1,1"2-acre Horse Park is a destinatjon venue <br />amcn$ hcrse facilities in our state snd alrgady attracts sver 30 thousand visit*rs ger year, gS <br />percent sf wlrom are nonlocal, The FarlCs ability to draw people frann outside lhe local area <br />uniquely characterizes the Park's impact: over $3.5 million in overnight stay$. Total economie <br />irnpact of the Park, in*ludtng day.visitors, is $3.9 millicn. Yhe Coyered Arena will allow the park <br />tCI attract more horse di:ciplines, f:ost larger rhows and *rtend the its operating season from <br />fivc to nine rnsnths, significantly increasing the si:e and number of eyents held at the park. <br />Cle Elum is in Kittitas County, where over 18 percent of jobs are in the Accornmodations and <br />Foodservice,Sectsr l4tttitas County PraJile, Meseck, regionallabor econornist, <br />updat*d September 2016). The economic impact of the park is considersble. <br />Tlrank youtor your consideratipfi. I urge the Stpte to fr"rnd this important proj*ct. <br />Sincer*ly, <br />Julie l(arnath <br />47L6 W. L42h <br />Kennewick, WA 99338