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Response 4.2: Describe how you will promote lodging establishments, restaurants, and business located in Kittitas County *
<br />Response 4.3: Is there a host hotel for your event or grant project? If yes, list the hotel.*
<br />5| Future Plans
<br />Response 5: Please explain what plans exist to allow this project to become self-sustaining. Include any plans for ticket sales,
<br />event sponsors, and other cost-recovery models.*
<br />We will promote lodging establishments, restaurants, and businesses located in Kittitas County in a variety of methods.
<br />Throughout the year, we have a number of special exhibits, programs, and events to promote the topic of a particular exhibit. We
<br />work with local businesses and other non-profits to co-market these events which increase exposure for both parties.
<br />We anticipate to feature a number of these particular businesses through our exhibit upgrades and through references on our
<br />website as links; through the virtual lectures where they have a full screen of information that sends people to local resources to
<br />plan trips; promotion through our social media accounts, especially as facts about businesses through our “Did You Know”
<br />notes; and through our videos and newsletters that encourage individuals to visit and stay locally. Our downtown walking tour
<br />and scavenger hunt also promote local businesses.
<br />The Museum also has an entire exhibit room of 2,400 square feet plus a space of 600 square feet that features local businesses
<br />past and present. As exhibits update, there are ways to incorporate information on current local businesses. Additionally, we
<br />have recently worked with a number of local current and historic businesses to preserve their histories and stories. There are
<br />also ways to further update a few business-related displays which could provide advertising options. We also have displays
<br />offsite at locations which we promote, like at Hotel Window, at Puget Sound Energy, and at Ida Nason Aronica Elementary
<br />School. And we always look for collaborative projects in and around Kittitas County.
<br />Other plans to promote local lodging establishments, restaurants, and businesses include tour and event sponsorships, exhibit
<br />and programming partnerships, and through opportunities to provide historic research, photographs, and information for the
<br />business which is a great collaborative effort that co-promotes the business and museum. We are actively working with
<br />businesses in Ellensburg, Kittitas, Cle Elum, Roslyn, and Easton. Museum staff and volunteers also provide word of mouth
<br />recommendations and print materials at the museum for individuals interested in local lodging establishments, restaurants, and
<br />businesses.
<br />2500 character limit
<br />No
<br />Yes Hotel Windrow,
<br />TownePlace Suites by
<br />Marriott
<br />The Kittitas County Historical Museum has plans to make this program self-sustaining. The Museum itself has always been
<br />supportive of ongoing operations and ways to encourage visitors to learn about local history. Since the initial undertaking of the
<br />advertising campaign back in 2013, and its continued annual success, the Museum’s Board of Directors have learned about the
<br />rate of return of advertising investment and maintains a budget line to match any advertising or reach alternative markets. In
<br />2023, the budget line increased from $2,500 to $5,000 and has since been retained for 2024 and 2025.
<br />We have also increased the rate of donations to the museum as a direct result of increased visitation, which we attribute to the
<br />advertising campaign ($5,335 in 2023 while we have received $4,061 through Aug 2024). We have increased our gift shop sales
<br />and as a result, invested in and expanded the shop to carry over 500 titles on local and regional history. We also have increased
<br />our membership program, in which the fees go toward funding events, activities, and programs. We also offer a free guided
<br />walking tour program in addition to a self-guided walking tour, along with a History Pub Crawl, in which we receive approximately
<br />$325 after costs.
<br />We know that our advertising campaign has a successful pattern, and in that as more individuals become aware of the museum
<br />and its opportunities, it has the basis to build something greater. As more people become aware of the museum, more people
<br />visit and become involved. More partnerships can be made, and more activity can happen. This has only the promise of an
<br />upward cycle, with an annual rate of return of 25-30%. We anticipate this to shift naturally toward organic support of the
<br />organization which then can increase the self-sustainability of the program.
<br />Overall, the Museum itself is already self-sustaining and supported by donations, memberships, gift shop sales, rental income,
<br />and investment properties. The more these income lines increase, the more the Museum is able to do as a result.
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