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June 25, 2025 <br />To the Members of the Kittitas County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee: <br />As representatives of a team that has worked diligently for several years to bring a community <br />recreation center to upper Kittitas county, we thank you for the opportunity to submit this Application <br />for the 2025 Lodging Tax Large Capital Project Program. While a community recreation center will be <br />transformative for residents of all ages in upper county, who have voiced their desires for a <br />community recreation center for more than twenty years, we believe this project is uniquely deserving <br />of lodging tax funding because: <br />•Currently, there are very few indoor recreation options for visitors in upper county. A visitor <br />occupying one of the many short-term rentals outside Suncadia, has no access to such <br />facilities. Even visitors to Suncadia are looking for options, as overcrowding of Suncadia’s <br />facilities continues to increase. While not quantifiable, this facility will undoubtedly attract <br />visitors. <br />•The city has approved our application, and construction documents are complete. This <br />project is shovel-ready, once governance and financing mechanisms are finalized. <br />•Basketball courts and a competition swimming pool will increase “sports tourism,” <br />•By providing an indoor recreation alternative for visitors, this project directly supports tourism <br />mitigation strategies included in the Kittitas County Tourism Plan <br />•Because the majority of lodging tax funds are generated in upper county, reinvesting in <br />upper county is equitable and economically sensible. <br />•A significant grant of lodging tax funds would provide significant fundraising leverage for <br />additional grant opportunities the team is pursuing. <br />In this Application, the Lodging Tax Committee will find support for the above (and more) compelling <br />reasons to award lodging tax funds to this project. If you have any questions or require additional <br />information, please contact us. <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />Claire Nicholls <br />President, Upper Kittitas County <br />Community Recreation Center Alliance <br />Matthew Lundh <br />Mayor, City of Cle Elum <br />Project Team Member <br />509-304-4576 509-260-1241