Discover Lewis County - Tourism Support Lewis County — 2020 Lodging Tax - Project Scope
Due to a discrepancy between the original funding request and the amount to be awarded,
N`" the following project information will need to be updated as that change in funding may
have affected the original Project Scope. Please do not change the format of this
document and be brief in your explanations to fit the space provided. PLEASE NOTE
THAT THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE TIED TO THE AGREEMENTS AND WILL BE USED
TO VERIFY PROJECT EXPENDITURES.
1 Project Submission Form
1. Project Name: DLC Tourism Support 2. Date Submitted:
10/3/19
3. Contact Person /Title: Tamara Hayes/ Director
4. Mailing Address: 1909 South Gold Street, Centralia, WA 98531
5. Telephone No.: 360-740-2656
6. E-mail: Tamara@DiscoverLewisCou ty.com
7. Signature of Representative: /f
8. Project Location (city/town) Lewis County (/
a. Name of Event or Activity: Tourism Support Program
9. Statement of Project Goals and Objectives:
Discover Lewis County (DLC) purpose is to promote events, adventure
fir. opportunities, historical sites, cultural institutions, scenic road trips, lodging and
more for our centrally located county. We want visitors to come, play and stay in
Lewis County.
10. Project Description:
DLC Tourism Support Program encompasses the products we have created to
date. As the year-round hub for Lewis County tourism information, these products
have supported tourism in LC: DLC canvas program, brochure production and
distribution, kiosk program & sandwich boards, first annual quarterly tourism
information & education workshops & new tourism information signage at the
fairgrounds office.
11. How does proposed project meet purposes of the Legislation?
RCW 67.28.1816
DLC creates compelling marketing content with the purpose of enhancing tourism
to Lewis County and resulting in "heads in beds." DLC serves the entirety of
Lewis County by providing consistency in our tourism efforts as a recognizable
and trustworthy brand. We are Lewis County's hub for all there is to do and see.
12. Anticipated Project Costs: $59,900.00 RECF1VE;1)
a. Total County funds awarded for 2020: $50,000.00 Board of County Commissioners
Lewis County Washington
DEC 82019
13. Project Cost Analysis
Project Budget
Column A Column B Column C Column D
Item Use of County Use of Other Total Available
Funds Funds Project Funds
Personnel (salaries & benefits) 30,600.00 $9,400.00 $40,000.00
Marketing/Promotion Materials $15,000.00 $15,000.00
Direct Sales Activities
Minor Equipment
Travel/Trainings (list below)
1 . Travel $2,400.00 $2,400.00
2.
3.
Contract Services (list below)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Overhead (building rent, utilities
etc.)
Administration $2,000.00 S500.00 $2,500.00
Project Subtotal: $50,000.00 $9,900.00 $59,900.00
`ttor
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14. PROJECT WORK PLAN
List the tasks, cost and timeframe,
Name individual(s), consultant(s),
and organization responsible for the project.
Table Ill
Discover Lewis County does not use any contract services.
Tasks Timeframe-Dates Estimated Cost Responsible Party/Name
Return completed Project Scope form to:
Rieva Lester
Lewis County BOCC. Rm. 210
351 NW North Street — 2"'4 Floor
Chehalis. WA 98532
Telephone: 360-740-1419
email: Rieva.Lester@lewiscountywa.gov
3
rThBoard
0D 360.740.1480
Of County Commissioners TDD 360.740.1480
• Lewis County Courthouse •351 NW North Street •Chehalis,WA 98531-1900 bocc@lewiscountywa.gov
111111F1=1111121111111
LEWIS COUNTY LODGING TAX APPLICATION
for budget year 2020
DEADLINE IS 3 P.M.THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019
Applications for Lewis County lodging tax funds(for budget year 2020)
are due by 3 p.m.Thursday, October 3, 2019.
Applications must be submitted via email to tourismpromotion@lewiscountywa.gov.
Please include your organization's name in the subject line.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Please note that the applicant is responsible for confirming timely delivery.
Also, please pay particular attention to the contact information you provide.
If your contact information is not up to date and we cannot reach you,
your application will not move forward.
ORGANIZATION / PROJECT INFORMATION
Organization name Discover Lewis County/Lewis County
Project name Tourism Support Program
Project coordinator Tamara Hayes
Date of project Annual/Ongoing
Amount requested from
Lewis County $46,500.00
Total project amount $145,455.00
L. Erik .Martin Edna J. Fund Bobby Jackson Gary Stamper Rieva Lester
'onager i First District Second District Third District Clerk of the Board
APPLICANT CONTACT INFORMATION •
Name Tamara Hayes
Street address 2555 North National Avenue
City,state,zip code Chehalis, WA 98532
Mailing address (if
different from street
address)
Current home phone
Current work phone 360-740-2656
Current cell phone 415-378-7666
Current email address Tamara@DiscoverLewisCounty.com
Agency Tax ID Number 91-6001351
Organization Unified
Business Identifier(UBI)
UBI expiration date
Type of organization: U 501(c)3 ❑ 501(c)6 ❑ Government agency
Organization's mission statement or purpose (one or two sentences): '4010'
DLC's purpose is to promote events, adventure opportunities, historical sites, cultural institutions,
scenic road trips, lodging and more for our centrally located county. We want visitors to come, play and
stay in Lewis County.
Year the organization was founded: 2015
Has your organization received Lewis County lodging tax funding in the past? DYes ❑No
If you answered "yes,"please answer the following two questions:
When did your organization receive Lewis County lodging tax funding? 2019
How much did your organization/project receive? $ 44,200.00
*441104
PROJECT NAME: Tourism Support Program 2
REQUIRED INFORMATION
Each applicant must attach the following to their application:
Financial documents: Each applicant must attach their most current business financial
statement,which must include a balance sheet,an income statement,the organization's
operating budget for 2019,the organization's projected budget for 2020,and a"financial
review" (details follow).All required financial information must be complete and must
balance,and the financial must meet the following guidelines: Each organization that
receives funding from the county's tourism fund must provide a financial review
completed by an independent certified public accountant (CPA) within the past five years.
County tourism tax money cannot be used to pay for financial reviews or audits.
Nonprofit determination: Nonprofit organizations must submit proof from the United
State Internal Revenue Service of their current tax-exempt status.
Personnel list: Each applicant must submit the title and name of all employees,including
contracted positions, as well as the title and name of all members of the organization's
board of directors (or other governing body).The list identifying the current board of
directors (or other governing body) must identify the principal officers and must include
the name, phone number, mailing address and email address for each.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Please provide a detailed description of the proposed project/activity.Your description
must include the following:
1. Describe how the project promotes tourism in all of Lewis County's unincorporated areas.
DLC Tourism Support Program encompasses the products we have created to date. As the year-round
hub for Lewis County tourism information, these products have supported tourism in LC: DLC canvas
program, brochure production and distribution, kiosk program & sandwich boards, first annual quarterly
tourism information &education workshops & new tourism information signage at the fairgrounds office.
2. Describe how the project will enhance tourism and result in"heads in beds."
DLC has created multiple tourism products and services that are a staple at visitor centers, museums,
hotels, and campgrounds throughout LC. The products enhance tourism by providing an access point to
activities through rack cards or tools to find out more about LC through the kiosk program, canvas
program, and website. Each of these products has led to an overall increase in "heads in beds" in LC.
3. List the responsible party/parties.
DLC staff will be responsible for the physical and digital product. We plan to partner with other LC LTAC
recipients to host the tourism information and education workshops. We want to see how we can help
other LC LTAC recipients reach their audience.
PROJECT NAME: Tourism Support Program 3
4. Describe how the area the project will serve,as well as the project's
expected impact.
DLC has rack cards, kiosks, sandwich boards, and canvases throughout LC and in parts of Thurston
County. We are running low on rack cards, and the boards need to be replaced. These products must
be reproduced and maintained in order to remain effective as well as aiding others in being effective in
sharing tourism information. In 2020, we would like to expand our product line into neighboring countiesp
5. Describe how the project will specifically promote tourism.
Discover Lewis County's sole purpose is to promote tourism in Lewis County. Each product we created
is aimed at either guiding a visitor to tourism opportunities or driving traffic to our website, where they
can learn about historical sites, scenic road trips, lodging and more.
6. Describe how you have collaborated with other entities throughout Lewis County
to promote tourism.
DLC collaborates both directly and indirectly with most tourism entities throughout Lewis County. We
promote our fellow LTAC recipients on our website and in marketing campaigns. We partner with other
groups for special projects, such as creating rack card content and video campaigns. DLC provides
visitor kiosks, sandwich boards, and rack cards to visitor organizations throughout the county.
7. Describe why your project should receive funding.
DLC believes we should receive funding because we feel that the lodging tax committee is asking DLC
to provide products and services regarding tourism opportunities to LC and in order for us to do that we
will need funding.
USE OF HOTEL/MOTEL TAX
Please indicate below the types of activities for which the lodging tax monies would be used:
❑ TOURISM PROMOTION Q OPERATION OF TOURISM-RELATED FACILITY
I] MARKETING ONLY U FESTIVAL OR EVENT DESIGNED TO ATTRACT TOURISTS
O DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE
8. Describe the expected results (measurable outcomes) of your project,with the
dollar amount for each outcome.
DLC is asking for support to fund our staff, the creators behind every project.
-$40,000 of this request goes to funding staff and website administrative costs. The measurable
outcome is continued production of innovative marketing campaigns. -$15,000 printing brochures,
signage, sandwich boards, and canvas program. The measurable outcome is the distribution of
brochures and canvases throughout Lewis County& neighboring communities. -$3,000 is allocated for
travel costs related to research and content production. -$2,000 of this requests is for hosting the
quarterly tourism information meetings. The measurable outcome is the impact DLC can have in
assisting other LC LTAC recipients to meet their goals.
PROJECT NAME: Tourism Support Program 4 411101
ftwo
9. Please provide attendance information regarding each of the following:
A. Overall attendance
a. Total number of attendees predicted to attend: See Analytics
b. Describe how receiving lodging tax dollars would increase that number
Discover Lewis County had 119,000 users to our website in 2018. For 2020,we predict active users on
the website to reach 150,000. The Discover Lewis County Facebook page has grown 20% over the last
year, with over 30,000 followers. DLC Instagram has grown by 66% in the last year. DLC continues to
advertise in movie theaters in Eastern Washington, Idaho, & Oregon. The DLC American Movie Network
quarterly campaign had over 285,002 impressions delivered, resulting in 525 total clicks. This is a
cumulative click-through-rate of .18%. Industry average is 0.09%, and DLC content is two times the
industry average! Lodging tax dollars are critical to continuing a robust marketing campaign that drives
visitors to our website.
B. Participants traveling fifty(50)miles or more
a. Projected number of attendees who will travel fifty(50)miles or more one
way from their home or business to attend: See Analytics
b. Describe how receiving lodging tax dollars would increase that number
The Discover Lewis County website see 68% of visitors from across Washington State, with 32%from
Seattle and another 13% coming from the Lacey/Olympia area.
Throughout all of our paid marketing campaigns, we aim to reach an audience outside of the 50-mile
immediate area. Lodging tax dollars have granted Discover Lewis County the flexibility to test new
marketing channels and reach a diverse audience. A continuation of this type of innovative marketing will
help to expand lodging tax dollars collected throughout unincorporated Lewis County.
C. Participants traveling from another state or country
a. Projected number of participants who will travel from another country or
state to attend: See Analytics
b. Describe how receiving lodging tax dollars would increase that number
The DLC website and marketing campaigns reach travelers from across the country and around the
world. 10% of visitors to the website come from Oregon, with most of those coming from our targeted
areas of Portland, Medford, Beaverton and Bend. 5% of visitors come from California --again they are
predominately coming from our targeted areas: the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles. In 2019,
DLC launched a video marketing campaign on YouTube. The campaign is a 30-second video promoting
the winter wonderland of the White Pass area to YouTube viewers in the San Diego and Palm Springs
areas. The analytics show that we have seen 57,000 impressions and 361 links in the first two months.
International visitors to site have come from Canada, Peru and the United Kingdom. This may be a direct
result of our United Airlines and Amtrak campaigns, which we started in the summer of 2019. Continued
lodging tax support will see visitors from out of state to the website increasing by 5%.
PROJECT NAME: Tourism Support Program
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D. Participants staying overnight in paid accommodations
a. Projected number of participants who will stay overnight in paid
accommodations:
b. Describe how receiving lodging tax dollars would increase that number
The DLC website has 10%of visitors click directly to lodging pages. The lodging pages grant visitors an
opportunity to learn about RV hook-ups, camping, hotels, motels, cabins, AirBnB, inns, resorts and lodges
throughout Lewis County.
Lodging tax dollars allow Discover Lewis County to continue to be year-round informational hub for what to
do and see and where to stay in Lewis County. For 2020, we hope to increase searches of our lodging
pages with a new enhanced search functionality by 5%.
E. Participants staying overnight in unpaid accommodations
a. Projected number of participants who will stay overnight in unpaid
accommodations:
b. Describe how receiving lodging tax dollars would increase that number
Discover Lewis County is confident that it is driving traffic to our website and other tourism information
websites throughout Lewis County. Website traffic has increased annually by 10% and social media
participation on Facebook by 20% in 2019. Discover Lewis County is clear that our year-round marketing
activities are helping to increase in attendance to events, museums, lodging, parks and more throughout
this county. Lodging tax dollars allow Discover Lewis County to continue to be an informational hub for
what to do and see and where to stay in Lewis County resulting in a increase in visitors.
10. Describe how the project provides short-term or long-term economic benefit for
Lewis County.
Discover Lewis County's short-term economic benefit is promoting events and being a hub for tourism
information in Lewis County. DLC's long-term economic benefit is the recognizable brand that guides you
to where you can find the information to plan your getaway to Lewis County.
11. 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.
Discover Lewis County pursues every opportunity for grants and other funding models. We use these
funds to support our marketing budget and reach new audiences. In 2019, we received additional grant
funding from Centralia Lodging Tax, the Port of Seattle Tourism Marketing Support Program, and the Port
of Seattle Spotlight Program. For 2020, we hope to seek additional private and public partnerships to
assist with growing our marketing opportunities.
1000
PROJECT NAME: Tourism Support Program 6
SOCIAL MEDIA
All social media will be reviewed. Please provide the following information:
Website address DiscoverLewisCounty.com
Facebook user name Facebook.com/DiscoverLewisCounty
Instagram Instagram.comldiscoverlewiscounty
Twitter account name
Any other social media platforms your organization uses to promote tourism
YouTube- Discover Lewis County
BUDGET
INCOME
If you are anticipating receiving partial funding for this activity from another source,please
44ime list the source,the approximate amount,and the status of funding.
Amount Source Confirmed Date available
(YES/NO)
$62,500.00 LC LTAC UYes •No January 2020
UYes ❑No
UYes ❑No
❑Yes ❑No
UYes ❑No
UYes ❑No
Total income: 62,500
What percentage of your project does your request for Tourism Promotion Dollars
represent? 43 %
4 kit
PROJECT NAME: Tourism Support Program
EXPENSE
Activity County I Other funds Total
Personnel $40,000.00 $40,000.00
Administration $ 2,500.00 $2,500.00
Marketing/promotion $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00
Direct sales activities $ 0.00
Minor equipment $0.00
Travel $ 3,000.00 S 3,000.00
Contract services $ 0.00
Other activities S 2,000.00 S 2,000.00
Total Cost S 62,500.00 $ 0.00 $ 62,500.00
The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) may recommend awarding partial funding.
Please indicate your priorities below:
Priority 1 Full Funding Request $62,500.00
Priority 2 Minimum Funding Request $40,000.00 �M
Applicant will / can accept no less than this amount $25,000.00
If partial funding is received,how will that affect the project/activity? Please describe:
If partial funding is received, DLC will have need to evaluate the projects and eliminate the ones that do not fit
with the new budget.
PROJECT TIMELINE/TOURISM SEASON
What is your anticipated timeline for accomplishing this activity?
Discover Lewis County is a year-round project and hub for Lewis County tourism. Our activities will take place
throughout the year of 2020.
PROJECT NAME: Tourism Support Program 8
From the list below,please indicate the season for which your project will enhance tourism
(and explain how it will do so).
SEASON EXPLANATION
Year-round 0
Off-season ❑
Shoulder season ❑
High season ❑
Is it a seasonal activity appropriate to its location?Explain.
ACKNOWLEGDGEMENT
%1+ The applicant hereby certifies and affirms 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 race,
ethnicity, color, religion, age,gender, national origin, or disability; and further certifies and affirms
that it will abide by all relevant local, state and federal laws and regulations; That it has read
and understands the information contained in this application for funding and is in compliance
with the provisions thereof and;That the individual signing below has the authority to certify to these
provisions for the applicant organization, and declares that he/she is an authorized official of the
applicant organization, is authorized to make this application, is authorized to commit the
organization in financial matters, and will assure that any funds received as a result of this
application are used for the purposes set forth herein.
Certified by: Date:
(Applicant signature)
(Print or type applicant's name)
I
PROJECT NAME:
Tourism Support Program 9