LT-2025-002-KVEC-Internal Operations-2025 Final

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Tourism -Related Facility Operational Funding Narrative (Municipality Applications Only) For the Year: 2025 1. Operational Spending: Please explain your request for operational funding and how it is directly related to supporting the operations of a tourism -related facility owned or operated by a municipality or public facilities district. The Kittitas Valley Event Center is requesting operational funding for the sum of $277,00 for salaries and benefits. This is 31 % of the 2025 salaries and benefits budget, which totals $894,535. This measurement is consistent with the percentage of support that was approved for 2024 Operations. KVEC personnel costs rose $14,860 in total in 2025 over 2024. Staff support is vital to continue year-round facility operations, maintenance, and the largest community event in the County — the Kittitas County Fair and Ellensburg Rodeo. 2. Sustainability Strategy: Please describe your strategy for long-term operational sustainability. Include any specific progress toward this goal. Our commitment to long-term operational sustainability is reflected in our continued year -over -year growth in facility visits and event expansion. The following data highlights our upward trajectory in visitor numbers: 2023: 5.6% increase Y 2022: 15.3% increase Y 2021: 31.2% increase In 2024, more than 62% of our visitors traveled from outside Kittitas County, with over 50% journeying more than 50 miles and nearly 6.5% coming from out of state. Notably, visits from more than 50 miles away increased by 18% compared to 2023, highlighting our facility's growing regional and national appeal. Altogether, more than 29,000 visitors came from beyond a 50-mile radius last year. These visitors alone contributed over $6.5 million in economic impact. When factoring in all out -of -county attendees, that impact increases by an additional $2.1 million. In total, event attendees in 2024 generated an estimated $11.7 million in economic benefits. When combined with our tourism -facility operations, our overall economic impact for the year exceeded $12.5 million. So far this year, we are already trending at a 32.2% increase in visits compared to last year, with 15% of those visits coming from outside Kittitas County. In addition, we have secured several major new multi -day events, further diversifying our offerings and maximizing our facility's year-round use. Among the confirmed additions are: • National Championships for Wild Horse Racing