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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLT2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY FINAL LT-2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY _______2026 County Lodging Tax Funding Agreement Page 1 2026 LODGING TAX SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN KITTITAS COUNTY AND VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY This Contract, effective January 1, 2026, is made and entered into by and between KITTITAS COUNTY acting as agent for and on behalf of the CONSOLIDATED LODGING TAX COMMITTEE (“County”), and VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY (“Contractor”) for 2026 MARKETING AND PRODUCTION PLAN (“Event”). WHEREAS, the purpose of this Agreement is to provide for activities and expenditures designed to increase tourism, and; WHEREAS, the constituent members of the Consolidated Lodging Tax Committee are Kittitas County, City of Roslyn, City of Cle Elum, and the City of Ellensburg (the cities are individually and collectively referred to in this Agreement as “City”); NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions contained herein, or attached and incorporated and made a part hereof, the County and the Contractor mutually agree as follows: Section 1. Scope of Work. a. Contractor shall provide the services and resources described in its Application for Lodging Tax Funds submitted to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, attached as Exhibit “A” which is incorporated herein by reference. b. To perform the services described in Paragraph (a) above and in accordance with this Agreement, Contractor shall furnish necessary equipment, property, personnel, labor, supervision, and all necessary technical, professional, and other services. All such services, property, and other items furnished or required to be furnished, together with all other obligations performed or required to be performed by Contractor under this Agreement, are collectively referred to herein as the “Services.” c. Contractor shall commence, perform and complete such Services in accordance with Exhibit “B” which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. Section 2. Compensation. a. Pursuant to the grant award for year 2026, the maximum compensation allowed under this Agreement is $10,000. b. Compensation under this Agreement shall be provided on a reimbursement basis upon submission of a proper reimbursement request accompanied by the required supporting documentation for the applicable expenses (including, without limitation, receipts and invoices). c. Reimbursable expenses must be incurred between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. All reimbursement requests must be submitted no later than January 11, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. LT-2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY _______2026 County Lodging Tax Funding Agreement Page 2 d. Requests for reimbursements must be submitted to: Kittitas County Auditor Attn: Auditor’s Accounting 205 West 5th Ave – Suite 105 Ellensburg, WA 98926 auditorsaccounting@co.kittitas.wa.us e. Reporting requirements of your events will be required on prescribed forms from the County Auditor. f. Contractor is eligible to claim reimbursement only for the following items and in the amounts specified below: • Advertising, Promotions and Graphic Design • Equipment rentals for productions • Closed Captioning and Accessibility services/software licensing • Facility Rental for productions • Royalties • Production Expenses and rentals (set pieces, props, costumes, hair, makeup, printing programs, etc.) • Website and IT support g. For event-related expenses, Contractors shall submit all reimbursement requests, together with the required supporting documentation, in no more than two (2) reimbursement requests submitted at the conclusion of the applicable event. Contractor is not eligible to claim reimbursement for any items not listed in Section 2 (f). h. Contractors must complete the Lodging Tax Reimbursement online training course provided by the County Auditor’s office prior to submitting a reimbursement request. Requests for reimbursement will not be accepted or approved by the County Auditor prior to the training being completed. The training may be found online at the Kittitas County Auditor’s website at the following address: http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/auditor/default.aspx i. Lodging Tax funds provided under this Agreement shall be used solely for the activities, operations, and expenditures expressly authorized herein. If the Contractor: (i) fails to expend the Lodging Tax funds in accordance with this Agreement, and/or (ii) uses such funds for any unauthorized purpose, then any funds received and not properly expended or accounted for shall, without prejudice to any other available remedy or penalty, be repaid to the County together with interest at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum. LT-2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY _______2026 County Lodging Tax Funding Agreement Page 3 Section 3. General Terms and Conditions. a. Assignment and Subcontracting: This Agreement may not be assigned or subcontracted in whole or in part without the express prior written approval of the County. Any such assignment or subcontracting without the County’s prior written consent shall be voidable at the County’s option. b. Independent Contractor: Contractor’s services shall be furnished by Contractor as an independent contractor, and nothing stated herein shall be construed to create a relationship of employer-employee or a guarantee of future employment. Contractor acknowledges that its entire compensation under this Agreement is specified in Attachment "B", and that Contractor is not entitled to any County benefits, including but not limited to: vacation pay, holiday pay, sick leave pay, medical, dental, or other insurance benefits, or any other rights or privileges afforded to County employees. c. Nondiscrimination: Contractor will not discriminate against any recipient of any services or benefits provided for under this Agreement on the grounds of age, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. d. Right to Review; Maintenance of Records: This Agreement is subject to review by any Federal or State auditor. The County or their designee shall have the right to review and monitor the financial and service components of the work performed under this Agreement by whatever means are deemed expedient by the County. Such review may occur with or without notice, and may include, without limitation, on-site inspection, inspection of all records or other materials which the County deems pertinent, and any and all communications with or evaluation by service recipients under this Agreement. Contractor shall preserve and maintain all records relating to this Agreement for six (6) years after termination or expiration of the Agreement, and upon request shall make them available for review by any Federal or State auditor, the County and/or any persons authorized by the County. For such duration after the County makes final payment of compensation due hereunder, Contractor shall provide the County access to (and the County shall have the right to examine, audit and copy, with or without notice) all of Contractor’s books, documents, papers and records related to the Services or this Agreement. e. Taxes: Contractor understands and acknowledges that neither the County will not withhold Federal or State income taxes from payments made to Contractor. Where required by State or Federal law, Contractor authorizes the County to make withholding for any taxes other than income taxes (e.g., Medicare). All compensation received by Contractor will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service at the end of the calendar year in accordance with applicable IRS regulations. It is the responsibility of Contractor to make its necessary estimated tax LT-2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY _______2026 County Lodging Tax Funding Agreement Page 4 payments throughout the year, if any, and Contractor is solely liable for any tax obligation arising from Contractor’s performance of this Agreement. The County will pay sales and use taxes imposed on goods or services acquired hereunder as required by law. Contractor must pay all other taxes, including but not limited to: business and occupation tax; or taxes based on (1) Contractor’s gross or net income, or (2) personal property to which the County does not hold title. The County is exempt from federal excise tax. f. Non-Transferability of Grant Assets: The Grantee is prohibited from pledging, mortgaging, assigning, or otherwise encumbering any grant funds or property acquired or improved with such funds. Any such attempt shall be considered null and void and unenforceable against Kittitas County. Section 4. Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Contractor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the County and their departments, elected and appointed officials, employees, agents and volunteers, harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, losses and expenses, including but not limited to court costs, attorney's fees and alternative dispute resolution costs, for any personal or bodily injury, sickness, disease or death, for any damage to or destruction of any property (including the loss of use resulting therefrom), and for any other claims, damages, losses, and expenses sustained by the County, which (1) are caused in whole or in part by any act or omission, negligent or otherwise, of Contractor, its employees, agents or volunteers, or Contractor’s subcontractors, their employees, agents or volunteers; or (2) are directly or indirectly arising out of, resulting from, or otherwise connected with the performance of this Agreement; or (3) are based upon Contractor’s or its subcontractors’ use of, presence upon or proximity to the property of the County. This indemnification obligation of Contractor shall not apply in the limited circumstance where the claim, damage, loss or expense is caused by the sole negligence of the County. This indemnification obligation of Contractor shall not be limited in any way by the Washington State Industrial Insurance Act, RCW Title 51, or by application of any other workmen's compensation act, disability benefit act or other employee benefit act, and Contractor hereby expressly waives any immunity afforded by such acts. The foregoing indemnification obligations of Contractor are a material inducement to the County to enter into this Agreement, are reflected in Contractor’s compensation, and have been mutually negotiated by the parties. The County reserves the right, but not the obligation, to participate in the defense of any claim for damages, losses or expenses, and such participation shall not constitute a waiver of Contractor’s indemnity obligations contained in any section of this Agreement. In the event Contractor enters into subcontracts to the extent allowed under this Agreement, each such subcontractor shall indemnify the County on a basis equal to or exceeding Contractor’s indemnity obligations to the County. LT-2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY _______2026 County Lodging Tax Funding Agreement Page 5 Section 5. Termination. a. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by mutual written agreement of the parties. b. The County, by giving written notice, may terminate this Agreement at any time without cause and without further obligation to Contractor except for payment due for deliverables provided and/or services performed prior to the effective date of termination. An equitable adjustment in the contracted price for partially completed tasks will be made by the County, but such adjustment shall not include compensation for loss of anticipated profit on uncompleted work. c. If Contractor defaults by failing to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, or becomes insolvent, is declared bankrupt or commits any act of bankruptcy or insolvency, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, the County may, by written notice to Contractor, terminate the Agreement, and at the County's option, obtain performance of the work elsewhere. If the Agreement is terminated under this paragraph, Contractor shall not be entitled to receive any further payments under this Agreement until all of its obligations hereunder have been fully performed, and any extra cost or damage to the County shall be deducted from any money due or coming due to Contractor. Furthermore, in the event of termination under this paragraph, Contractor shall bear the costs of any extra expenses incurred by the County in completing the work, and all damages sustained, or which may be sustained, by the County. d. If the termination results from acts or omissions of Contractor, including but not limited to misappropriation of funds provided hereunder, nonperformance of required services, and/or fiscal mismanagement, Contractor shall return to the County immediately any funds, misappropriated or unexpended, which have been paid to the Contractor by the County, together with applicable interest calculated at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum. e. Termination of this Agreement by any means provided herein shall not excuse any party’s performance of its obligations hereunder through the effective date of termination, except that the County shall not be obligated to pay for services that have not been performed or deliverables that have not been provided. Section 6. Miscellaneous. a. Cities as a Party. The other constituent members of the Consolidated Lodging Tax Committee (Cities of Roslyn, Cle Elum, and Ellensburg) are not direct parties to this Agreement but are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and to the extent set forth herein certain of its provisions are for the benefit of these Cities and are enforceable by these Cities in their own names (collectively and/or individually) and in their capacities as Washington municipal corporation(s). LT-2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY _______2026 County Lodging Tax Funding Agreement Page 6 b. Contractor Commitments, Warranties, and Representations: Contractor represents and warrants as follows: b.1. Contractor represents that it has been duly authorized by the County to enter into this Agreement and to perform the obligations set forth herein. Contractor warrants that it possesses all necessary legal authority to enter into and perform this Agreement. b.2. Contractor has the authority to execute this Agreement, to make the representations and warranties set forth herein, and to perform its obligations hereunder. b.3. This Agreement has been validly executed by an authorized representative of Contractor and constitutes a valid and legally binding and enforceable obligation of Contractor. b.4. Contractor holds, or will obtain prior to commencing work under this Agreement, such licenses, permits and other authorizations from federal, state and local governmental authorities, or from any applicable industrial or professional certification or licensing bodies, as are necessary for the lawful performance of its obligations under this Agreement, and will maintain such throughout the term of this Agreement. b.5. Contractor is not in violation of any applicable law, ordinance or regulation the consequence of which will or may materially affect Contractor's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Contractor is not subject to any order or judgment of any court, tribunal or governmental agency which materially and adversely affects its operations or assets in the State of Washington, or its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement. b.6. Contractor is not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any Federal or State department or agency. b.7. None of the representations or warranties in this Agreement, and none of the documents, statements, certificates or schedules furnished by Contractor in connection with the performance of the obligations contemplated under this Agreement, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit a material fact necessary to make the statements of fact contained therein not misleading. c. Waiver: The waiver of any default or breach of this Agreement, or the failure of a party to enforce any provision hereof or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder, shall not be deemed to waive any prior or subsequent default or breach, the enforcement of any provision hereof, or the exercise of any right or privilege hereunder, unless otherwise stated in a writing, signed by the parties hereto. LT-2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY _______2026 County Lodging Tax Funding Agreement Page 7 d. Ownership of Items Produced: All writings, programs, data, reports, films, recordings, or other materials prepared by Contractor and/or its consultants or subcontractors, in connection with the performance of this Agreement, shall be the sole and absolute property of the County. The County will have all rights of ownership therein, including but not limited to the right to use, copyright, trademark, and/or patent, and the ability to transfer any or all ownership rights. e. Complete Agreement: This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any and all other agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, oral or written, express or implied, regarding the work to be performed hereunder. The parties agree that no other representations, inducements, promises, agreements, or warranties relating to this Agreement, oral or otherwise, have been made between the parties. Except as provided elsewhere in this Agreement, no modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless in writing and signed by the parties. f. Notice: Notice for any purpose under this Agreement, except service of process, shall be given by the Contractor to the Kittitas County Commissioners and the Kittitas County Auditor, 205 W 5th Ave. Ellensburg, WA 98926. For all purposes under this Agreement, any notice by the County to the Contractor shall be given to the Contractor’s address provided on the signature page. Notice may be given by delivery or by depositing in the U.S. Mail, first class, postage prepaid, certified mail, return receipt requested. g. Headings: The headings of sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not intended to restrict, affect, or be of any weight in the interpretation or construction of the provisions of such sections or paragraphs. h. Severability: If any term or condition of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person(s) or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other terms, conditions or applications which can be given effect without the invalid term, condition or application. To this end, the terms and conditions of this Agreement are declared to be severable.. i. Venue and Choice of Laws: In the event that any litigation should arise concerning this Agreement, the venue for such action shall be in the Superior Court of the State of Washington in and for the County of Kittitas. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington. j. Force Majeure; Termination without Liability. The performance of this Agreement is subject to termination without liability by either party upon the occurrence, or upon the prediction by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, any other agency of the United States Government, or any agency of the Government of the State of Washington of the occurrence of any circumstance beyond the control of either party—including, without limitation, acts of God, war, acts of terrorism within a fifty (50) mile radius of Kittitas County, government regulations, disaster, pandemic/epidemic illness, strikes or threat of strikes (except that neither party may terminate this Agreement for situations involving that party’s own employees), civil disorder, or curtailment of transportation facilities—to the extent that such circumstance makes it illegal , impossible or economically impracticable for the parties LT-2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY _______2026 County Lodging Tax Funding Agreement Page 8 to complete the duties and mutual obligations agreed upon and imposed upon them herein. The ability to terminate this Agreement without liability pursuant to this paragraph is conditioned upon delivery of written notice from one party to the other within 10 days of such occurrence or upon delivery of written notice from one party to the other within 24 hours of the receipt of notice of the prediction of any of the above occurrences. To the extent feasible within the constraints imposed by any event of the type described above, the parties agree that if the triggering event is of apparently or likely transitory effect, the parties may negotiate such amendments to the agreement that are mutually satisfactory and not otherwise contrary to law, including but not limited to a change in the dates for completion of any portion or the entirety of this agreement. k. Time: Time is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement unless otherwise agreed between the parties in a signed writing. l. Construction: This Agreement has been mutually reviewed and negotiated by the parties, and should not be construed against the drafter. m. Agreement Not for Benefit of Third Parties: This Agreement is entered into solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and vests no rights in, nor is it enforceable by, any third parties. LT-2026-016 VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY _______2026 County Lodging Tax Funding Agreement Page 9 KITTITAS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONTRACTOR ________________________________ ______________________________ Chair [Print Name] ________________________________ Vice Chair [Sign Name] Commissioner [Address] Telephone] Date signed: ________________________________ ATTEST: _________________________ Clerk of the Board Letter to Prospective Applicants Dear Prospective Applicants, Thank you for considering applying for the 2026 Lodging Tax Fund. As a crucial part of our community's efforts to bolster tourism and enrich our local culture, we are excited to outline the specific goals and priorities of the Consolidated Lodging Tax Committee for the upcoming year. Our committee is dedicated to supporting events that not only draw visitors to our community but also contribute to its long-term vitality and prosperity. To this end, we are particularly focused on the following criteria for 2026: Off-Season Events: We are eager to fund events that take place during off-peak times, as these have the potential to stimulate economic activity during typically slower periods. Priority will be given to proposals for new events that diversify our community's offerings and attract visitors throughout the year. Uniqueness of Event: We seek events that stand out for their originality, creativity, and distinctiveness. Whether through innovative programming, cultural significance, or immersive experiences, we are interested in supporting events that capture the imagination and leave a lasting impression on attendees. Community Support and Strategic Alignment: It is essential that funded events have a tangible impact on the community in which they are held and align with its strategic goals. We encourage applicants to demonstrate how their event will contribute to local businesses, promote cultural exchange, or enhance community well-being, among other objectives. Emphasis on Tourism from Outside the 50-Mile Radius: Proposals should outline strategies for marketing and outreach to attract visitors from neighboring regions and beyond, thereby maximizing the economic and cultural benefits of the event. (RCW 67.28.1816) We believe that by prioritizing these criteria, we can support events that not only drive tourism but also foster community engagement, stimulate economic growth, and showcase the unique identity of Kittitas County. We encourage all interested applicants to carefully review the guidelines and criteria outlined in the application materials and to submit proposals that align closely with our goals and priorities. Together, we can create memorable experiences that enrich our community and leave a lasting legacy for years to come. Thank you for your interest in the 2026 Lodging Tax Fund. We look forward to receiving your applications and working together to make Kittitas County a vibrant destination for visitors and residents alike. Sincerely, Consolidated Lodging Tax Committee EXHIBIT A LTAC Application You are strongly encouraged to compose your responses to the questions of this form with a desktop text editor and save your work, then copy and paste the information into the form. You may also save a draft by selecting the button at the bottom of this page. When you do this you will be logged out and must log back in to continue. In order to save a draft you will need to provide an email address and a password. After completing the save draft, you will be redirected to landing page containing a link to log back into the form. We suggest you save this link as a bookmark. The link will also be sent to you in an email. Did you attend the Grant Application Workshop for the current year hosted by the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce?* Confirmation and Acknowledgement:* Name of Organization * Organization Address * Organization Classification * Upload Proof of Organization Status (NOTE: incorrect/incomplete documentation will disqualify the application)* NOTE: The project contact listed below MUST be a volunteer/member/employee of the organization requesting funds. First Name * Last Name * Yes No I have read and understand Submittal Instructions and General Information for the Lodging Tax Grant Funding Process. I acknowledge that a representative for my organization will need to attend (either virtually or in-person) the oral presentation meeting to answer questions. Organization Information Laughing Horse Arts Foundation dba Valley Theatre Company City Ellensburg State / Province / Region WA Postal / Zip Code 98926 Country USA Mailing Address PO Box 1551 Business Non-Profit Click here to view sample documents (redacted). Acceptable file formats include: JPG, PDF or TIFF LHAF_501c3-Biz License combined 2023.pdf 1.58MB Project Contact Information Jessica Black Phone Number * Email * Project/Event Name * Project/Event Location * New or Ongoing Project/Event?* Please provide any specific dates, or range of dates, on which your event or project will be held. You may add as many dates or date ranges as necessary.* Start Dates *End Dates Service Categories * Tourism Seasons * Amount of Funding Requested * Funding Request Max 1| Project/Event Description 509-972-6633 info@valleytheatreco.org Project or Event Information 2026 Marketing and Production Plan Multiple venues including IOOF Lodge, Hotel Windrow, Morgan PAC and others Ongoing Project/Event (More than four years in existence) New Project/Event (Four or fewer years in existence) 1/1/2026 12/31/2026 Check all categories that apply to this application Tourism promotion/marketing Operation of a special event designed to attract tourists Operation of a tourism related facility Other From the list below, what season will your project enhance tourism? Select any which apply. Year-round (January - December) Off Season (November - February) Shoulder Season (October or March - May) High Season (June - September) If you selected "Ongoing Project/Event" above, this amount may not exceed 10% of the total expense budget of this project. 17400.00$ 17,433.00 Please answer each of the following questions completely, in the order listed. Please include any supporting data within the response narrative. Application Questions: Part 1 Response 1.1: Please provide a description of your project/event.* Response 1.2: Please provide us link to a brief video summary of you organization's event/project.* Valley Theatre Company (VTC), established in 1999, is a cornerstone of live performance in Ellensburg and Kittitas County, drawing audiences locally and from across Washington. Our 2026 season is designed to increase tourism, theatre attendance, and volunteer participation, enhance accessibility for theatre patrons, and strengthen partnerships with local businesses. Our season features four major productions and monthly Reader’s Theatre events rotating through downtown venues, fostering collaboration with restaurants, wineries, and businesses. In 2026, we will present Murder on the Orient Express (January 30– February 14, including a new themed pre-show experience), Tuck Everlasting (April 24–May 2, highlighting youth and high school student leaders), The Addams Family (July 2-11, summer musical), and the Cabernet Cabaret dinner theatre and revue (November 6-8). Together, these events create year-round tourism opportunities. VTC desires to expand accessibility by licensing closed-captioning software, ensuring that each production includes a captioned performance. This new service will welcome audience members who are hard-of-hearing, broadening participation and aligning with our mission of inclusive community arts. Data from 2025 demonstrates the tourism impact of VTC productions: 15–25% of attendees traveled from over 50 miles away, with the Cabaret reaching 24.9%. To increase this reach, we will employ a robust marketing campaign utilizing social media ads, online ads on local community and regional websites, print ads, posters, yard signs, video and radio advertisements, and at other VTC and community activities throughout the year. Cross-promotional partnerships with EACA, CWU, EHS, regional theatres, and local businesses—such as themed menus, cocktail pairings, and store discounts—further extend our draw to visitors beyond the county. Lodging tax support will directly fund marketing, facility rental, royalties, and production expenses, enabling us to maintain the professional quality of our programming while offering new accessible services. By providing distinctive and original live theatre experiences in every season, VTC enriches community life, supports local businesses, and drives cultural tourism that benefits Ellensburg and the greater Kittitas Valley. 2500 character limit Note: You MUST be present at the Q&A meeting to qualify for funding. https://youtu.be/q8KCBny7MIs Response 1.3: List of Intended Use of Funds * Note: This language will be related in the contract if awarded. The CLTAC cannot approve funds not listed under RCW 67.28.1816. However, the committee has the right to be more restrictive. Advertising, Promotions and Graphic Design Equipment rentals for productions Closed Captioning and Accessibility services/software licensing Facility Rental for productions Royalties Production Expenses and rentals (set pieces, props, costumes, hair, makeup, printing programs, etc.) Website and IT support 2| Supporting Kittitas County as a tourism destination. 1. Away from their place of residence or business and staying overnight in paid accommodations; 2. To a place fifty miles or more away from their place of residence or business for the day or staying overnight; 3. Or from another country or state outside of their place of residence or business. You must provide the evidence utilized in determining your projections. Response 2.1: Why would tourists travel to Kittitas County to attend your event/activity/facility?* Valley Theatre Company (VTC) is a proven tourism driver. We create destination-worthy theatre experiences that encourage visitors to travel to Kittitas County and extend their stay. Our productions are 2–3 hours long and scheduled on weekends, aligning perfectly with overnight trips. We cross-promote with local restaurants, wineries, and hotels that offer discounts, themed menus, or ticket packages, encouraging audiences from outside the 50-mile radius to stay overnight and spend locally on dining, shopping, and lodging. Tourists are drawn not only by the quality of our productions, but also by the unique experiences we provide: • Summer Musical: Opens over the July 4th holiday with a live orchestra—rare for community theatre. Attendance has grown for the 3rd year in a row with 2386 attending in 2025. Our Independence Day “Pay-What-You-Can” performance drew 513 attendees, with 19% from outside the county, including 4.5% from out of state. Cross-promotion with Ignite the Arts positioned Ellensburg as a cultural holiday destination. • Cabernet Cabaret: Our region’s only dinner theatre offering, staged in the Hotel Windrow ballroom. Sold out for four consecutive years, with nearly 25% of audiences from outside Kittitas County. The pairing of dining, wine, and live music creates a distinctive, immersive experience. • Winter Play: Performed in smaller, intimate venues. In 2026, we expand to three weekends and introduce a new themed pre- show experience, giving tourists another reason to visit during the off-season. • Rising Stars Youth Production: Brings together elementary, middle, and high school students under adult mentorship, creating a family-centered draw that brings relatives and friends from across Washington. VTC productions also generate extended family travel. With casts ranging from 25–100 people, each production invites hundreds of personal connections that translate to 800–1,000 out-of-town tickets annually. Many of these visitors choose to stay overnight or combine the trip with other Ellensburg attractions. Monthly Reader ’s Theatre events hosted in downtown venues add consistent, year-round arts experiences, appealing to tourists already in town for business, recreation, or family visits. Our upcoming closed-captioning initiative, rarely offered outside large urban theatres, will further broaden accessibility and distinguish Ellensburg as an inclusive cultural destination. 2500 character limit 3| Impact Response 3: Describe how you will promote your event/activity/facility to attract tourists.* 4| Collaboration Response 2.2: Describe the prior success of your event/activity/facility to attract tourists.* Valley Theatre Company (VTC) has demonstrated consistent success in drawing visitors from outside Kittitas County to our productions. Ticket data from 2024–2025 shows that an average of 15–25% of attendees for each production travel more than 50 miles, even for our smaller shows (Cabaret 24.9%, Winter Play 17.5%, Rising Stars 14.7%, Summer Musical 21.6%). In July 2025, our summer production of The Sound of Music attracted 2,386 attendees across eight performances, a 14% increase from the prior year, averaging just under 300 per show. A new Independence Day “Pay-What-You-Can” performance drew 513 attendees (our third-highest single performance in 20+ years), with 14.6% from outside 50 miles in Washington and 4.5% from out of state. Partnering with the Ellensburg Arts & Cultural Alliance, we successfully cross-promoted Ignite the Arts, positioning Ellensburg as a holiday arts destination. In 2025 we captured zip codes for 81.4% of attendees. Results showed 80.5% from Kittitas County, 19.5% from over 50 miles in Washington, and 3.1% from out of state (tripling 2024’s out-of-state percentage). Applying these percentages to total sales (4,915 tickets) means an estimated 808 visitors came from outside the county and 151 from out of state, totaling 959 attendees from more than 50 miles away. Local residents also frequently purchase tickets for visiting family and friends, suggesting actual travel numbers are higher. Visitor spending translates into measurable lodging and economic impact. Using Dean Runyan Report data: • 35% of out-of-town guests stayed in hotels/motels (≈336 people) • 28% visited for the day only (≈268 people) • 37% stayed with family/friends. For paid lodging, the average party size was 2.3 people for 2.5 nights. Based on this, our 2025 season generated an estimated 368.5 room nights. With Kittitas County’s average seasonal room rates ($100–$137), this equates to $47,452 in lodging revenue. Using the Chamber’s estimate of $205 per day-tripper, we calculate an additional $23,933 in county revenue generated from attendee spending on food, gas, and shopping. These results show that VTC productions not only attract substantial numbers of tourists, but also drive significant overnight stays and visitor spending, contributing directly to the cultural and economic vitality of Kittitas County. 2500 character limit Application Questions: Part 2 • Target Facebook and social media ads to the greater Central Washington region • List the event in online event calendars regionally and with statewide arts supporters and organizations • Work collaboratively with other community / semiprofessional theaters in the region to promote the event • Advertise the event regionally (with a focus on Chelan, Yakima, Grant and King Counties) at appropriate venues (which may include online community boards, radio ads, displays at events or venues, or other marketing opportunities as appropriate). • Link to the County Tourism Website • Link to the Chamber of Commerce • Add events to the local 2026 visitors guide - including online banner ads and email blasts • Use branding logo, fonts and credit the support received on our website, Facebook page, etc. • Link to county accommodations and restaurant opportunities. • Print advertising and mailers displaying our season of shows with event dates and info links for distribution at hotels and businesses that are higher traffic areas for tourists. • Develop Experience Partner “packages” with local businesses – i.e. restaurants, hotels for “dinner and a play” or a “weekend stay and play” to cross-promote with local businesses and encourage more overnight guests. 2500 character limit Application Questions: Part 3 Response 4.1: If your organization collaborates or has created partnerships with other organizations, groups, or other events, how is this accomplished?* Response 4.2: Describe how you will promote lodging establishments, restaurants, and business located in Kittitas County * Valley Theatre Company (VTC) is deeply committed to collaboration, both within the Laughing Horse Arts Foundation and throughout the region. Within the foundation, we work alongside organizations such as Central Washington University (CWU), local school districts, and other community and semi-professional theatres to advance the shared goal of producing high-quality musical theatre. Our partnerships extend to groups like the Warehouse Theatre in Yakima, which provides technical support, and with whom we routinely cross-lend sets, props, and equipment. VTC also rents costumes, props, and technical gear to theatre and dance organizations from Ellensburg to Leavenworth, Cle Elum, Yakima, and as far as Coeur d’Alene, helping strengthen the broader performing arts ecosystem. We maintain strong and growing relationships with CWU’s Music, Theatre, and Film departments, as well as the Ellensburg School District. Faculty and students contribute as performers, designers, and technicians, while our partnership with CWU’s Central Communication Agency (since 2024) brings marketing and social media support from student interns. As a SLICE- recognized community organization, we provide students with internship opportunities and real-world experience in theatre management, production, and promotion. Collaboration is also central to the Laughing Horse Arts Foundation’s structure, which includes multiple sub-organizations in Ellensburg and Cle Elum. We cross-promote events, share resources, and coordinate productions as needed. Every VTC production is powered by community volunteers—actors, musicians, backstage crew, set builders, costumers, and makeup teams—whose collective efforts ensure the professional quality of our work. VTC also plays a leadership role in the broader arts community. We are an active stakeholder in the Ellensburg Arts and Cultural Alliance (EACA) and have been engaged since 2021 in its investment, strategic planning, and implementation process. Our Executive Director is current Vice President of the board, chairs EACA’s Resource Development Committee, and serves on the Steering Committee for the Ellensburg Creative District, helping guide the vision of a thriving artist community that connects cultural, civic, and business leaders. 2500 character limit Promoting Local Lodging, Restaurants, and Businesses Valley Theatre Company (VTC) actively promotes and partners with Kittitas County businesses to enhance visitor experiences and drive economic impact: • Restaurants: Partner with local dining establishments to offer cross-promotions such as ticket-holder discounts, themed menus, and custom cocktails. Restaurants display VTC flyers/table tents, while we advertise their specials on our website, ticketing platform, and social media. This flexible approach allows each restaurant to tailor a promotion that works for them, while giving theatre patrons a reason to explore local dining before or after the show. • Lodging: Continue to develop “stay-and-see a play” packages with hotels and provide rack cards and show posters for lobby displays. These partnerships not only encourage overnight stays but also strengthen our shared goal of showcasing Ellensburg and Kittitas County as a cultural destination. • Reader’s Theatre: Since 2025, monthly script-in-hand readings have rotated among downtown businesses (e.g., Gard and Valo tasting rooms, The Ink). These events bring audiences directly into local venues, generating foot traffic and exposure for participating businesses. • Business Sponsorship & In-Kind Support: In 2025, local businesses contributed approximately $7,200 in goods and services (costume cleaning, set materials, sound equipment, concessions, etc.), all of which are recognized in programs and sponsorship signage. Wheel Line Cider named VTC their 2026 Rodeo City Community Cider beneficiary, and we are currently planning a few co-hosted events in 2026. • Cross-Promotion Impact: By combining arts programming with local hospitality and business partnerships, VTC ensures that visitors not only attend productions but also dine, shop, and stay locally. Through these collaborations, VTC strengthens the cultural destination appeal of Kittitas County, encouraging visitors to support restaurants, lodging, and businesses while enjoying live theatre. 2500 character limit Response 4.3: Is there a host hotel for your event or grant project? If yes, list the hotel.* 5| Future Plans Response 5: Please explain what plans exist to allow this project to become self-sustaining. Include any plans for ticket sales, event sponsors, and other cost-recovery models.* No Yes Plans for Self-Sustainability As a nonprofit arts organization, Valley Theatre Company is primarily funded through individual donations and production revenue. Over the past 27 years, we have grown from producing one summer musical to offering 4–5 annual events, including a youth production, a cabaret-style dinner theatre, a winter small-cast play or musical, and a large summer musical. We have also expanded into educational programming with workshops in acting, technical theatre, and stage combat. In 2026, we plan to add workshop intensives led by regional and nationally known artists. For this project, sustainability will be supported by strong earned-income strategies. We will promote ticket sales more heavily through social media, digital platforms, and targeted print advertising. With our full season already set for 2026, we are exploring the addition of season tickets and flex passes to build a more reliable base of returning patrons. While modest ticket price increases are planned for fall, winter, and summer productions (to offset inflation and rental costs), youth productions will remain affordably priced. We also continue our commitment to accessibility through Pay-What-You-Can performances at every production and donation-based Reader ’s Theatre events. We are actively expanding sponsorship and advertising partnerships with local businesses to diversify revenue streams and increase reliability. In addition, ancillary events such as the pre-show experience for Murder on the Orient Express provide both goodwill and supplemental revenue opportunities. A special Independence Day Pay-What-You-Can performance will further serve as a community celebration while encouraging broader audience engagement. Finally, recent strategic technology investments allow us to perform in alternative venues with reduced technical costs, increasing our flexibility and long-term sustainability as a mobile community theatre. Through a balance of ticket sales, sponsorships, diversified programming, and careful cost management, Valley Theatre Company is positioning itself to be sustainable – well into the future. 2500 character limit Application Questions: Part 4 6| Additional Information Response 6.1: Provide any additional information which will assist the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee in evaluating your project and its benefit to tourism. In past years, Valley Theatre Company requested lodging tax support only for our summer musical, historically our largest production. However, ticket data over the past three years shows that our winter, youth, and cabaret productions are also drawing consistent tourism, with 15–25% of attendees traveling more than 50 miles to see our shows. These productions are growing rapidly: our cabaret expanded from one performance to four, the winter play will increase to 12 performances in 2026, and our youth production moved to Morgan’s stage in 2025 with attendance more than doubling. These signals, combined with audience demand, make clear that VTC now has a case for year-round tourism impact. To build on this growth, we are implementing a year-round marketing strategy that promotes the entire season as part of Kittitas County’s tourism offerings. This approach strengthens VTC’s reputation as a high-quality theatre destination and encourages visitors to plan return trips across the year. We are also investing in accessibility, with plans to introduce closed captioning at one performance of each production. This feature, typically only available at large regional theatres, allows hard-of-hearing patrons to discreetly follow performances on their personal devices—broadening our audience reach and setting our county apart as an inclusive cultural destination. As a community theatre, our productions provide opportunities for families, students, and volunteers, while creating meaningful visitor experiences that encourage extended stays. Audience testimonials (attached) affirm that VTC productions are consistently worth the destination drive. 2500 character limit Response 6.2: You may upload any supporting documents such as graphs, images, diagrams, marketing materials, etc. You are allowed to submit up to 3 single page (US Letter) documents in JPG, PDF or TIFF format Audience Comments.pdf 219.02KB VTC Supplemental - Promotion samples.pdf 767.27KB 7| Previous Lodging Tax Grant Information Response 7.1: Has your event received Lodging Tax funds in previous years?* No, this event/project has not previously received Lodging Tax Funding Yes, 1 year previous Yes, 2 years previous Yes, 3 years previous Yes, 4 or more years previous Response 7.2: Overall Attendance * Past Actual *Projected * 4,915 5,200 Response 7.3: Number of people travelling more than 50 miles for your event?* Past Actual *Projected * 959 1,014 Response 7.4: Number of people traveling from outside WA State for your event?* Past Actual *Projected * 151 161 Response 7.5: The number of overnight guests who stay in paid accommodations in Kittitas County for your event?* Past Actual *Projected * 336 355 Response 7.6: Number of paid lodging room nights resulting from you event/activity/facility?* Past Actual *Projected * 368 386 Response 7.7: In addition to fields above, you may upload the evidence to support the prior years' room/night information. You may upload up to three single pages (US Letter), of information. If you a single multi-page document, only the first three pages will be considered. The following formats, will be accepted: JPG, PDF or TIFF 2025 Ticket Zip Code Data.pdf 80KB Response 7.8: What methodology did you use to calculate the prior years' actual numbers?* Direct Count (preferred) Indirect Count Representative Survey Informal Survey (preferred) Structured Estimate Other Response 7.9: What methodology will you use to calculate the upcoming numbers?* Direct Count (preferred) Indirect Count Representative Survey Informal Survey (preferred) Structured Estimate Other 8| Funding Response 8.1: Does your organization have, or have you applied for funding from other sources?* Funding Source Amount Response 7.10: Please explain your methodology.* Please explain. Our ticketing platform reports tickets purchased by zip code, for any purchase online or onsite that is paid with a credit/debit card. This accounts for approximately 81.4% of tickets sold in 2025. While we recognize that some local attendees will purchase tickets on behalf of out-of-town family and friends, this report allows us to get a much more accurate idea of the number of attendees coming from cities that are 50+ miles away. In addition, we use: • Post-event surveys emailed to ticket purchasers • Ticket information • Google and website Analytics and Tracking • Social Media Campaigns and Ads Based on ticket data, we have zip code data for 4001 out of 4915 tickets sold. Of these,19.5% of attendees traveled more than 50 miles and 3.1% travelled from Out of State. When we apply these percentages to the total number of tickets sold 959 people were from over 50 miles, and 151 of those were from out of state. We used the Dean Runyan Report for Structured Estimates of percentages of out-of-town attendees, average party size and average length of stay. • Day visitors (28%), • Overnight visitors staying in Hotel/Motel (35%), • Overnight visitors staying in private home (37%) • Paid Nights: Average party size is 2.3 people, and they stay an average of 2.5 nights. Calculations: • 19.5% of 4915 tickets sold = 959 • Est., Attendance Paid Overnight (35% of 959) = 336 • Est., Attendance Did Not Pay Overnight (65% of 959) = 623 • Est., day attendees (28% of 959) = 268 • 2025 Est., Paid Lodging Nights = 336 / 2.3 x 2.5 = 368.5 We calculated our 2026 projections based on these same percentages. Revenue Impacts were calculated using data from the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce: Average lodging cost by season: • Month and Rate x Est Room nights =Estimated Revenue • Jan-April: $100 x 58.3 = $5,830 • May-Sept: $137 x 280 = $38,360 • Oct-Dec. $108 x 30.2 = $3,262 • Total for year: Rooms: 368.5 Revenue: $47,452 Average day trip generates $205 into the county (gas, food, shops, recreation) • 268 ppl / 2.3 party size * $205 = $23,933 for the year 2500 character limit Application Questions: Part 5 Yes No Response 8.2b: List all funding sources and amounts for which you have applied but have not yet secured.* NEA Grants for Arts Projects (if awarded will be limited to fall 2026 workshops and winter play in 2027) 15,000.00$ Response 8.3: What changes will be made if funding for your request is not available or recommended?* Matching Funds Percentage 9| Project Budget Overview Please complete budget for this project/proposal. If your agency operates independently of this project application it may not be necessary to submit the entire agency budget. You must submit a budget which specifically pertains to the project/event for which you are requesting funding and adheres to the basic budget format shown below. The budget must include anticipated revenues, expenditures, and any potential profit or loss. For projects/events which are ongoing for more than one (1) year, please also submit actuals from the previous three (3) years of operations (need not be consecutive) for the project/proposal if applicable. For any claimed in-kind contributions valued at $500 or more and related to marketing/advertising, you must submit verifying documentation which assures the contribution will be provided. For instance, if you are claiming in-kind contributions in the form of advertising match, a binding contract itemizing the matching value and obligating each party must be provided. ATTENTION: In an effort to allow an adequate level of flexibility for all applicants, not all fields in the budget portion are required to be filled before this form is submitted. Providing all applicable data is your responsibility, failure to do so will potentially jeopardize your application's chance for review. Budget Year Edit if necessary Wheel Line Cider – 2026 Rodeo City Cider Beneficiary – Sept. 2026 5,000.00$ Business Sponsorships for individual productions – Production Element (10-20 available)1,000.00$ Business Sponsorships for individual productions – Performance Night (10-20 available)2,000.00$ Business Sponsorships for individual productions – Premier Sponsor (4-5 available)5,000.00$ Ellensburg Arts Commission – for Rising Stars Production 2,500.00$ If our funding request is not awarded, the most immediate impact would be on our ability to reach visitors from outside Kittitas County. Much of the expanded advertising and marketing we have planned—including digital campaigns, statewide print placement, and out-of-county promotions—would have to be scaled back. This would limit our ability to grow attendance from beyond the 50-mile radius and reduce the overall tourism benefit of our productions. Another area directly affected would be accessibility. We have budgeted for annual licensing of closed-captioning software that allows us to provide one captioned performance per production, ensuring that hard-of-hearing patrons can fully enjoy live theatre in Kittitas County. Without funding support, we may need to postpone or cancel this initiative, which would be a significant setback in our efforts to make theatre more inclusive. Rising printing costs also pose a challenge. Posters, flyers, and programs are essential tools for both promotion and the visitor experience, but these costs have risen sharply in recent years. Without grant assistance, we may have to reduce the quality or quantity of print advertising and collateral available to tourists. As a last resort, cuts could extend to the productions themselves. This could include reducing the number of performances offered in a run or increasing ticket prices beyond what is desirable for accessibility and family affordability. Either option would directly limit our ability to welcome a broad mix of visitors and reduce the economic ripple effect of overnight stays, restaurant visits, and local shopping tied to theatre attendance. In short, funding allows us to amplify marketing, increase accessibility, and keep productions affordable and widely available. Without it, our ability to generate measurable tourism impact would be significantly constrained. 2500 character limit. 1098.55 This field will auto fill with the correct percentage based on your input to budget section below. 2023 2024 2025 2026 Revenues Account Name Past Actual 3 Past Actual 2 Past Actual 1 Projected Verification of In-kind Contributions Contributions of Volunteer Time Past Actual 3 Past Actual 2 Past Actual 1 Projected Number of Hours Evidence of Volunteer Contributions * Calculated Value of Projected Volunteer Time Total Revenues Past Actual 3 Past Actual 2 Past Actual 1 Projected LTAC Grant Funding 3,835.00$3,660.00$4,099.00$17,400.00$ Other Revenues Donations/Direct Contributions 25880.00$15390.00$30157.00$38900.00$ Non-Government Grants (EAC) 11024.00$4497.00$2499.00$2500.00$ Government Grants (NEA) 0.00$0.00$0.00$15000.00$ Program Rentals 1707.00$3430.00$3048.00$2750.00$ Tuition Fees 1330.00$1875.00$2325.00$8250.00$ Advertising Sales 850.00$1200.00$2325.00$2875.00$ Ticket Sales 58828.00$70115.00$88053.00$101493.00$ Sponsorships 5000.00$2300.00$2000.00$5000.00$ Concessions 1667.00$3171.00$5332.00$5300.00$ Auction/Raffle 3520.00$4090.00$4520.00$4600.00$ In-Kind Contributions Donated Professional Services - GAAP 300.00$850.00$1945.00$1300.00$ Donated Other Services - Non-GAAP 3400.00$2306.00$4690.00$2580.00$ Donated Use of Facilities 0.00$2300.00$0.00$0.00$ Donated Goods 840.00$0.00$577.00$600.00$ For any claimed in-kind contributions valued at $500 or more and related to marketing/advertising, you must submit verifying documentation which assures the contribution will be provided. 22,382 28,939 27,795 32,837 Please upload a single file which offers evidence in support of the projected volunteer hours. Volunteer Hours Calculation.pdf 86.02KB 773,639.72$ 118181.00$115184.00$151570.00$982187.72$ Expenses Expense Item Past Actual 3 Past Actual 2 Past Actual 1 Projected Admin Salaries & Payroll Expenses 17473.00$19940.00$22413.00$29350.00$ Advertising & Promotions 3557.00$4100.00$4277.00$5050.00$ Catering 5417.00$3590.00$4129.00$5500.00$ Graphic Design 0.00$0.00$165.00$600.00$ Production Contract Labor (Producer, Director, Designers, Crew) 12750.00$18600.00$18250.00$19785.00$ Production Musicians / Orchestra 300.00$4520.00$7290.00$5120.00$ Workshop Instructors 590.00$0.00$0.00$2400.00$ Volunteer Coordinator/Background Check 120.00$75.00$50.00$250.00$ Royalties 12479.00$12769.00$17316.00$15070.00$ Program Donated Other Services - Non-GAAP 0.00$2306.00$4090.00$2580.00$ Costumes/Sets/Props/Ha ir/Makeup 2255.00$10198.00$12393.00$12125.00$ Lighting/Sound rentals and supplies 728.00$2238.00$654.00$1800.00$ Concessions expenses 991.00$727.00$2057.00$2300.00$ Other Production Supplies 5331.00$3666.00$4685.00$4600.00$ Equipment Rentals for Production 3560.00$2892.00$178.00$2000.00$ Postage/Shipping 766.00$720.00$923.00$900.00$ Printing/Copying/Publicat ions 5263.00$5068.00$5077.00$6450.00$ Facility Rental for productions 11069.00$21834.00$19196.00$25300.00$ Administrative Storage costs 7060.00$8212.00$7508.00$8450.00$ Equipment Purchases/Maintenance 8716.00$793.00$4864.00$6500.00$ Scholarships/Grants 3500.00$1100.00$2000.00$2500.00$ Admin/General Business Expenses 5950.00$4717.00$6665.00$5900.00$ Eburg City Admissions Taxes 1945.00$2226.00$3015.00$4600.00$ Expense Totals Profit & Loss Past Actual 3 Past Actual 2 Past Actual 1 Projected The applicant hereby certifies and affirms: 1. That it does not now, nor will it during the performance of any contract arising from this application, unlawfully discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, client, customer, or other person who might benefit from said contract, by reason of age, race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, military status, sexual orientation, creed, place of birth, or disability; 2. That it will abide by all relevant local, state and federal laws and regulations and; 3. That it has read the information contained in the Instructions on pages 1 and 2 and understands and will comply with all provisions thereof. Certified by:* Name * Applicant's Title * Cleaning / Setup / Takedown 0.00$400.00$0.00$0.00$ Contingency Expenses 0.00$0.00$0.00$5200.00$ 109820.00$130691.00$147195.00$174330.00$ 8361.00$-15507.00$4375.00$807857.72$ Application Certification Jessica S. Black Executive Director Exhibit “B” Guidelines and Requirements for Expenditure Reimbursements from Lodging Tax Section 1. Branding Contractors who have been approved to utilize grant awards for advertising expenditures must incorporate Kittitas County and the appropriate City of Cle Elum, Ellensburg, or Roslyn tourism information as follows: A. Websites and Social Media Sites must include the County’s and appropriate City’s tourism website logo or URL with an operational link to the site(s). The URL landing page must use the correct logos and have a link to centralwashingtonoutdoor.com. Contractors must either keep the landing page active until time of reimbursement or use a screen capture for full reimbursement. (If you are using a live logo as the link to CWO, please ensure the hyperlink is shown in the screen capture). The logo must be displayed on the contractor’s home page, it must be sized no smaller than ½ inch in height and must be surrounded by appropriate white space to allow easy recognition and legibility. Contractors shall not change the logo(s) in color or appearance. B. Print Advertising and Online Display Advertising of all types (including but not limited to newspaper, periodicals, flyers, posters, billboards, direct mail, e-newsletters, third-party websites, streaming displays, social media etc.) must include the County’s and appropriate City’s tourism website logo (or URL with a one-click away operational hyperlink). The URL landing page must use the correct logos and have a link to centralwashingtonoutdoor.com. Contractors must either keep the landing page active until time of reimbursement or use a screen capture for full reimbursement. (If you are using a live logo as the link to CWO, please ensure the hyperlink is shown in the screen capture). The logo must be sized no smaller than ½ inch in height and must be surrounded by appropriate white space to allow easy recognition and legibility. Contractors shall not change the logo(s) in color or appearance. C. Video Advertising of all types (including but not limited to television, online, electronic kiosks, motion billboards, etc.) must include the County’s and appropriate City’s tourism website logo. The logo must be sized no smaller than ½ inch in height and must be surrounded by appropriate white space to allow easy recognition and legibility. Contractors shall not change the logo(s) in color or appearance. All logos and website information may be obtained by contacting the Director of Tourism, Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce. Section 2. Advertising Reimbursements Contractors seeking reimbursement from Lodging Tax Funds for advertising expenditures must adhere to the following guidelines and requirements for each type of advertising media utilized. A. Print Advertising: 1. Print advertising placed with any media provider which operates exclusively outside of Kittitas County may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production costs. To operate exclusively outside of Kittitas County, the provider must not be physically located in the County and/or not distribute any media within the County. 2. Print advertising placed with any media provider which operates inside Kittitas County may be reimbursed as follows: a. For date-specific events, advertising the day of the event and up to 10 days prior to the event may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production costs. b. For seasonal or year-round events, or for date-specific events outside of the timeframe in Section 2 A, (2)(a) above, advertising reimbursement requests must include a statement from the media provider specifying the percentage distribution to areas outside of Kittitas County. Reimbursements will be allowed for the amount distributed outside of Kittitas County, including any production costs. B. Television Advertising: 1. Television advertising placed with any media provider outside the Yakima/Kittitas DMA will be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production cost. 2. Television advertising placed with any media provider inside the Yakima /Kittitas DMA will be reimbursed as follows: a. For date-specific events, advertising the day of the event and up to 7 days prior to the event may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production costs. b. For seasonal or year-round events, or for date-specific events outside of the time- frame in Section 2 B, 2(a) above, advertising may be reimbursed at the rate of 70% of the total cost, including any production costs. C. Online Advertising: 1. Online advertising and promotion may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production cost. 2. Streamed media (radio, television, other) requests for reimbursement must include a statement from the media provider specifying the percentage of recipients which are outside of Kittitas County. Reimbursements will be allowed for the percentage distributed outside of Kittitas County, including any production costs. D. Direct Mail: 1. Direct mail advertising may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production cost, for each item mailed or shipped to a destination outside of Kittitas County. In order to receive reimbursement, a list of the addresses and a signed statement from the contractor that the list is accurate, or other proof of delivery, must be provided along with other required documentation. E. Flyers/Posters: 1. Flyers or posters which are placed outside of Kittitas County may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production cost. In order to receive reimbursement, a list of the locations where flyers or posters were posted outside of Kittitas County, a signed statement from the contractor that the list is accurate, and a copy of the poster/flyer must be provided along with other required documentation. 2. Banners which are placed inside of Kittitas County may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production costs. In order to receive reimbursement, the banner cannot list a specified date or location. Requests can only be made one time. 3. Signage (site layout use only) which are placed inside of the venue/facility of the event may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production costs. In order to receive reimbursement, the signage cannot list specified date or location. Request can only be made one time. (i.e. ADA Parking/Parking, Loading Zone, Evacuation Route, Bathrooms, and Stage locations) F. Radio Advertising: 1. Radio advertising placed with any media provider located outside of Kittitas County may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production cost. 2. Radio advertising placed with any media provider located inside of Kittitas County may be reimbursed as follows: a. For date-specific events, advertising the day of the event and up to 7 days prior to the event may be reimbursed at 100% of the cost, including any production cost. b. For seasonal or year-round events, or for date-specific events outside of the time- frame in Section 2 F, 2(a) above, advertising may be reimbursed at the rate of 30% of the total cost, including any production costs. G. Operation Reimbursement: 1. Operation costs may be reimbursed 100% of the paid invoice cost. In order to receive reimbursement operations invoice must an approved cost from the Consolidated Lodging Tax committee members list. Invoice provided must include notation of payment with proof of payment. 2. Mileage reimbursements that are outside of 50 miles of Kittitas County may be reimbursed at 100% of cost. In order to receive reimbursement, a signed statement from the receiver along with other required documentation. Mileage reimbursement is subject to IRS mileage reimbursement rates which may change annually. 3. Items not eligible for reimbursement: a. Salaries of employees. b. Capitol purchases- any item with 3+ years life and over $5,000. c. Licenses, permits, insurance, or credit card fees.