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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKVEC Application? KITTITAS COU Lodging Tax for Tourism-Related Operations "lnternal Application Only" Submission Deadline: September 10th, 2027 @4:00pm Kittitas Cou nty Commissioners 205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 108, Ellensburg, WA 98926 509-962-7508 Lodging Tax for Tourism-Related lnternal Operations General lnformation Kittitas County imposes a lodging tax assessed on the sale or charge made for furnishings of lodging according to RCW 67.28.L8O and RCW 67.28.181' ln accordance with the tax and Washington State law, a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee has also been established. The committee's purpose is to advise and recommend to the Board of County Commissioners how excise taxes on lodging should be allocated to support tourism which in turn generates revenue. Uses According to Law: RCW 67.28.L816 states the following: Lodging tax revenues under this chapter may be used, directly by any municipality or indirectly through a convention and visitor bureau or destination marketing organization for supporting the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality. Definitions included in state law which should be considered in anv application requesting fundins include 1. Tourism means economic activity resulting from tourists, which may include sales of overnight lodging, meals, tours, gifts, or souvenirs. 2. Tourism promotion means activities, operations, and expenditures designed to increase tourism, including but not limited to advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists; developing strategies to expand tourism; operating tourism promotion agencies; and funding marketing or the operation of special events and festivals to attract tourists. Review Process: Kittitas County's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) will review all Kittitas County completed applications. Qualifying applicants will be provided the opportunity to present their projects to the LTAC and answer questions. The LTAC will submit their recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) who have final approval authority for the list of recommendations. Prior to making a final decision, the BOCC will publicly deliberate on the recommendations received from the LTAC. Applicants may also be requested to present their projects to the BOCC and answer questions. 3. Tourism-related facility means real or tangible personal property with a usable life of three or more years, or constructed with volunteer labor that is: (a) (i) owned by a public entity; (ii) owned by a nonprofit organization described under section 501 (c) (3) of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended; or (iii) owned by a nonprofit organization described under section 501 (c) (6) of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended; a business organization, destination marketing organizations, main street organization, lodging association, or chamber of commerce; and (b) used to support tourism, performing arts, or to accommodate tourist activities. SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERNAL APPLICATION Please return ONE COPY of the entire originalapplication and answers to narrative questions to: Kittitas County Commissioners Attn: lnternal Lodging Tax Grant Application 205 West 5th, Suite l-08, Ellensburg, WA 98925 Applications must be received no later than 4:00 PM, September 10th, of and must be postmarked accordinglv. lncomplete and/or late applications will not be considered. Applications may not be changed or amended by the applicant after the deadline for submission Schedule: Application deadline Oral presentations of proposals to LTAC LTAC submits to BOCC BOCC Deliberation and Decision Applicant Award Notification September 10 no later than September 16 no later than October 3L no later than November 17 November L7 Proiect Management: The Board of County Commissioners will approve the application based upon the recommendation of the LTAC. The Board will approve by Resolution the amount authorized. All funds awarded under this program will be available in the form of a direct charge to the Lodging tax budget for the Fiscal year, January through December. All funds awarded for supporting the operations of county-owned tourism-related facilities will be available for reimbursement until January 15 of the next year. lf January 15, falls on a weekend the requests must be submitted on the Monday immediately following. Any unexpended funds will be returned to the Lodging Tax account and made available for re-appropriation. All requests for reimbursement shall be made to the Kittitas County Auditor's office at the following address: Kittitas County Auditor Attn: LodgingTax Grant Funds Reimbursement 205 W 5th, Suite 105 Ellensburg, WA 98926 For specific information and requirements regarding the reimbursement process, please contact the Auditor's office at 509-962-75O2. Applicant Categories and Elieibilitv: APPLICATION FOR LODGING TAX FOR INTERNAL TOURISM- RELATED OPERATIONS Applicant lnformation - operations Application for Fiscal Year 2022 Enter date: i.e. Jan 1 Name of Department:Kittitas Valley Event Center Mailing Address:901 E 7th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926 Contact person and Title: Kady Porterfield, Event Center Director Phone 509-962-7675 Email kady. porterfield @co. kittitas.wa. us Project Title Staffing Project Location:KVEC Funding Request $200 000 Application Req uirements x L. The project qualifies for lodging tax funds is supporting the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by Kittitas County. x 2. A completed project budget is included in the application (if applicable). Applicant Certification: Please sign below in agreement with statement of certification. Certification is hereby given that the information provided is accurate and the applicable attachments are complete and included as part of the application package. I further certify the application thresholds are met at the time of application f( D;reck,- q/g/zt Sign of Official ntative Title Date Tourism-Related Facility Operational Funding Narrative (Municipality Applications Only) For the ysx2O22 1. Operational Spending: Please explain your request for operationalfunding 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, See Attached. 2. Sustainability Strategy: Please describe your strategy for long-term operational sustainability. lnclude any specific progress toward this goal. See Attached. 3. Applicant Certification: Please sign below in agreement with statement of certification Certification is hereby given that the information provided is accurate and the applicable attachments are complete and included as part of the application package. I further certify that the application thresholds are met at the time of application. €c birec-iar q lg/zt of Officia resentative TitleSign Date Tourism-Related Facility Operational Funding Narrative (Municipality Applications Only) For the Year;2O22 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 its labor costs made in order to continue the support provided to customers who rent the facilities and visit Kittitas County. KVEC management realizes the importance of the proper attention, upkeep, and maintenance that this large and diverse facility needs, as well as providing excellent customer service and support. Our 2022 event season will start out strong as people are anxious to get back to their social lives and we've already seen a large uptick in event bookings. The annual Kittitas County Fair was an indicator people are ready to be recreating and attending events again. We will continue to maintain our full-time staffing and offer our seasonal and temporary positions throughout the year-round event season. 2. Sustainability Strategy: Please describe your strategy for long-term operational sustainability. lnclude any specific progress toward this goal. With current staff structure, direction, and processes, KVEC can better meet the expectations and demand of events held on the grounds as well as continue to bring in new business. This also includes the newer self-promoted event with holding a community 4th of July celebration featuring a top-notch country music concert. Hosting more events as such increases the economic impact on our community by bringing in more visitors and generating tourism. New event holders continue to inquire about booking at KVEC due to the improvements they've witnessed as event attendees or by word of mouth. Once we have fully reopened in the new year, events that came and left are wanting to return to our location in Ellensburg as they love the centralized location in Kittitas County and are excited to look in to working with us.