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Tourism-Related Facility Operational Funding Narrative <br />(Municipality Applications Onlyf <br />For the Year:2O2L <br />1. Operational Spending: Please explain your request for operational funding and how it is <br />directly related to supporting the operations of a tourism-related facility owned or operated by <br />a municipality or public facilities district. <br />The Kittitas Valley Event Center is requesting operational funding for its labor <br />costs made in order to increase the support provided to customers who rent the facilities <br />and visit Kittitas County. ln 2020, a County Wage Survey was passed, increasing staff <br />salaries in almost every filled full-time position. KVEC acquired its own full-time <br />maintenance staff, which also increased the budget for salaries in 2020. <br />Due to these substantial, but necessary, increases in labor costs, KVEC is asking <br />for an increase to its 2021 grant funding request compared to requests of previous <br />years. KVEC management realizes the importance of the proper attention, upkeep, and <br />maintenance that this large and diverse facility needs. aur 2021event season will be <br />coming back strong as people are anxious to get back to their social lives. We will <br />continue to maintain our full-time staffing and fill our current open positions including <br />both fulltime (1) and seasonal (3). <br />2. Sustainability Strategy: Please describe your strategy for long-term operational sustainability. <br />lnclude any specific progress toward this goal. <br />With current staff structure, direction, and processes, KVEC can better meet the <br />expectations and demand of events held on the grounds as well as continue to bring in <br />new business. This also includes adding a new self-promoted event with holding a <br />community 4th of July celebration featuring a top-notch country music concert. Hosting <br />more events as such increases the economic impact on our community by bringing in <br />more visitors and generating tourism. <br />New event holders continue to inquire about booking at KVEC due to the <br />improvements they've witnessed as event attendees or by word of mouth. Once we <br />have fully reopened in the new year, events that came and left are wanting to return to <br />our location in Ellensburg as they love the centralized location in Kittitas County and are <br />excited to look in to working with us. Our calendar for 2021and on is already packed <br />with anxious people ready to see the event world open back up.