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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJefferson County Tourism Coordinating Council re: Gateway Welcome Center - $58,550TCC Tourism Coordinating Council of Jefferson County, WA To: Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners Council Members From: Jefferson County - Tourism Coordinating Council Date: February 9, 2023 Diana Smeland, TCC Chair- Resort at Port Ludlow Re.: Request for Proposals: Jefferson County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds Bill Roney, TCC Past Chair- Conditional to being awarded the opportunity to operate the Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitor Olympic Peninsula Gateway VIC Information Center (VIC), TCC (Tourism Coordinating Council), on behalf of the VIC, submits this Cleone Telling, Jefferson Co. ARPA grant proposal, requesting $58,550 for permitting and design work needed towards Worthington Park, Quilcene developing a new Gateway Welcome Center at SR 104 & SR 19. TCC has not received previous ARPA or Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Dan Ventura, awards from Jefferson County. In fact, TCC was the first of LTAC (Lodging Tax Advisory Committee) Cove RV, Brinnon 2020 recipients to voluntarily reduce by $63,550 the previously awarded tourism marketing allocation due Amy Neil - Kalaloch Resort, Forks to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic development and public benefit to Jefferson County residents and visitors to the north Marsha Massey, Olympic Peninsula through the development of this Gateway Welcome Center will be significant. This Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission plan incorporates site programming amenities of: Visitor and staff parking, transit and commercial highway Aaron Terada, rest area, RV camping, trails, amphitheater, Public restrooms, Lobby, Multi-agency information and exhibit Fort Flagler State Park, Nordland areas, Classrooms, Administration, Sales (gift shop, food services), building mechanical, electrical, security and IT. Interpretive kiosks and waysides including the Puget Sound to Pacifics Olympic Peninsula Crystie Kisler, Finnriver, Chimacum connector to the Great American Rail-Trail and the ODT (Olympic Discovery Trail). Bethany Smith, Inspired by the February 2003 County commissioned site concept and feasibility study by Miller Hull Old Alcohol Plant & Inn, Port Hadlock and SvR Design, (see illustration), we request the following budget towards development of the 15 acres of County property: Heidi Eisenhour, Commissioner to TCC Preliminary Olympic Peninsula Gateway Welcome Center ARPA budget request Civil engineering 4,950 Marketing Coordinator - Septic system design 11,100 Steve Shively, S3 Solutions Geotechnical engineering 5,500 County Health, Pre-application filings 2,950 Architect 10,000 TCC - Project Manager 17,850 2023 E. Sims Way - #308 Capacity Building/Development 6,200 Port Townsend, WA 98368 Total $58,550 p. 360-440-7006 | f. 360-912-8352 Upon being awarded operations of the VIC, TCC intends to create a separate 501(c)3 for VIC e. tcc@enjoyolympicpeninsula.com administration and additional fundraising capacity. Initial sources to be explored for partnership in www.EnjoyOlympicPeninsula.com development and collaborative operations of a new Gateway Welcome VIC include: -Private Partnership) Qualified Opportunity Zone investment funding Foundations and regional funding The Olympic Peninsula Gateway VIC currently extends hospitality in the form of information and regular emergency / incidental aid to our valued Olympic Peninsula visitors. TCC embraces the enormous potential of a regional Gateway Welcome Center, and encourages strategic leadership from the County to maximize the potential that upcoming WSDOT roundabout construction, and available regional and federal funding might provide for the future. Thank you for your consideration.