LT2025-017-Kittitas County Historical Society

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Response 4.2: Describe how you will promote lodging establishments, restaurants, and business located in Kittitas Gounty * We will promote lodging establishments, restaurants, and businesses located in Kittitas County in a variety of methods. Throughout the year, we have a number of special exhibits, programs, and events to promoie the topic of a particular exhibit. We work with local businesses and other non-profits to co-market these events which increase exposure for both pariies. We anticipate to feature a number of these particular businesses through or"rr exh jbit upgrades and through references on our webiite as links; through the virtual lectures where they have a full screen of information thai sends people to local resources to plan trips; promotion through our social media accounts. especially as facts about businesses through our "Did You Know" notes; and through our videos and newsletters that encourage individuals to visit and stay locally. Our downtown walking tour and scavenger hunt also promote local businesses. The Museunr also has an entire exhibit room ol 2,4A0 square feet plus a space of 600 square feet that features local businesses past and present. As exhibits update, there are ways to incorporate information on current local businesses. Additionally, we have recently worked with a number of local current and historic businesses to preserve their histories and stories. There are also ways to further update a few business-related displays which could provide advertising opiions. We also have displays offsite at locations which we promote, like at Hotel Window, at Puget Sound Energy, and at lda Nason Aronica Elementary School. And we always look for collaborative projects in and around Kittitas County. Oiher plans to promote local lodging establishments, restaurants, and businesses include tour and event sponsorships, exhibit and programming partnerships. and through opporlunities to provide historic research, photographs, and information for the business which is a great collaborative effort ihat co-promotes the business and museum. We are actively working with businesses in Ellensburg, Kittitas. Cle ElLrm, Roslyn, and Easton. Museurn staff and volunteers also provideword of mouth recompnendations and print maierials at the museum for indjviduals interested in local lodging establishments, restaurants. and businesses. 2500 characler lir]]ii Response 4.3: ls there a host hotel for your event or grant project? lfyes, list the hotel.* ,No Yes Hotel Windrow. TownePlace Suites by Marriott I 5l Future Plans Response 5: Please explain what plans exist to allow this project to become self-sustaining. lnclude any plans for ticket sales, event sponsors, and other cost-recovery models.* The Kiititas County Historical Museurn has plans to make this program self-sustaining. The Museunr itself has always been supportive of ongoing operations and ways to encourage visitors to lea.n about local history. Since the initial undertaking of the advertising campaign back in 2013, and its continued annual success, the Museum's Board of Directors have learned about the rate of return of advertising investment and maintains a budget line to match any advertisrng or reach alternative markets. In 2023, the budget line increased from $2.500 to $5.000 and has since been retained lor2O24 and 2025. We l'lave also increased the rate of donations to the museum as a direct result of itrcreased visitation, which we attribute to the advertising campaign (S5,335 in2023 whilewe have received $4,061 through Aug2024). We have increased ourgift shop sales and as a result, invested in and expanded the shop to carry over 500 titles on local and regional history. We also have increased our membership program, in which the fees go toward funding events, activities, and programs. We also offer a free guided walking tour program in addition to a self-guided walking tour, along with a History Pub Crawl, in which we receive approximately $325 after costs. We know that our advertising campaign has a successful pattern, and in that as moTe individuals become aware of the museum and its opportunities. it has the basis to build something greater-As more people become aware of the museutr, more people visit and become involved. More partnerships can be made, and more activity can happen. This has only the promise of an upwardcycle.withanannual rateof return of 25-30%. Weanticipatethistoshiftnaturallytowardorganicsupportof the organization which then can increase the self-sustainability of the program. Overall, the Museum itself is already self-sustaining and supported by donations, memberships, gift shop sales. rental income, and investment properties. The more these income lines increase, the more the Museum is able to do as a result. 250n chara{xer lir}rii