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4. Public Benefit: <br />Please describe the public benefit derived from project completion. <br />Being centrally located in the state, Ellensburg has the potential to become an economic <br />player. It just needs investment in infrastructure that is enticing to tech workers and <br />businesses around the state. By having Gigabit connectivity we are telling commerce that we <br />are open for business. We are able to provide the infrastructure needed to companies that <br />want a satellite office or have telecommuters, who would enjoy our quality of life. The proposal <br />will greatly enhance these locations and should help entice economic growth to the area. <br />Without these improvements we may remain a freeway stop farming town on the way to <br />somewhere else. The city has experienced great benefits from the existing City owned fiber <br />optic system in place which provides redundant and resilient fiber network connections for the <br />NG911 Primary Access Point, Private networking and resilient gigabit internet for local <br />Emergency Operations Centers, increasing public safety capabilities in our community, and <br />redundant high capacity higher learning solution to Central Washington University. This grant <br />would enhance these systems as well as the economic vitality to our community with the <br />opportunity to further expand our broadband capabilities, and potentially improve the quality of <br />life for our residents. Ellensburg was recently prioritized by the governor for economic <br />development through the Opportunity Zones election process. Our proximity to the technology <br />industry clusters in the Puget Sound area affords us a unique opportunity to grow this sector of <br />our local economy. Robust broadband infrastructure along with Opportunity Zone benefits are <br />critical to these efforts. <br />5. Define the total number of project partners demonstrating project support. <br />Our efforts are supported by Central Washington University, a community partner which has a <br />vested interest in high speed internet access for their students, faculty and employees. The <br />Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce, The Ellensburg Downtown Association, Ellensburg Rotary, <br />and other organizations, business and individuals who support economic development in our <br />town all understand the importance of internet access for economic growth and for future <br />opportunities in our community. <br />6. Explain how construction ready this infrastructure project is relative to design completeness and the <br />permitting process. <br />Gateway 1 is currently at 90% design. Bull Road Extension is at 90% design with permits <br />secured from WSDOT for passing under 190. Gateway 2 is in the early design and planning <br />stages but will be very similar to the Gateway 1 design. <br />7. Indicate the Estimated Number of Short Term and/or Permanent Jobs Created/Retained by the Project. <br />550 <br />Currently there is approximately 330 acres of undeveloped land along the project areas. the <br />330 acres of undeveloped land can support 110 new businesses, assuming 3 acre lots. If <br />these businesses employed an average of 5 employees each, the proposed project can <br />support and serve approximately 550 employees. <br />Submit the original application to: <br />Kittitas County Department of Public Works <br />411 N. Ruby, Suite #1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 <br />