HomeMy WebLinkAboutBlack Ball Ferry Support Letter Board of Clallam
County Commissioners
223 East 4tn Street,Suite 4
Port Angeles,WA 98362-3015
360.417.2233 Fax:360.417.2493
MARK OZIAS,District1, Chair Email: comimissionet o,ciallam.wa.us
RANDY JOHNSON,District 2
BILL PEACH,District 3 Rich Sill, County Administrator
April 28, 2020
Senator Maria Cantwell Senator Patty Murray Representative Derek Kilmer
511 Hart Senate Office Bldg. 154 Russell Senate Office Bldg, 1410 Longworth House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
RE: Support for the Black Ball Ferry Line
Dear Senator Cantwell, Senator Murray and Representative Kilmer:
This joint letter requesting financial support for the Black Ball Ferry Line comes from the cities of
Forks, Sequim, Port Angeles, the Port of Port Angeles, Clallam Economic Development Council,
Clallam County and our 24th District State Legislators. The locally owned Black Ball Ferry Line is an
economically critical service in Clallam County which has been forced to curtail operations due to
COVID-19 restrictions in both Canada and Washington State. Unfortunately, we fear that without
federal support, that Black Ball Ferry Line will not be able to maintain operations.
A 2019 economic study detailed that the Black Ball Ferry Line directly employs 91 people with
generous family wage jobs, supports nearly 1000 jobs in our rural County, and has a financial impact
of over $60 million annually in our community. The MV Coho sailing between Victoria and Port
Angeles is one of the Olympic Peninsula's iconic images.
Black Ball carried over 450,000 passengers leading to about 135,000 overnight stays in our area.
These passengers purchase lodging from hotels and motels, B&Bs, purchase food and beverages, go
to our museums and visit our scenic attractions. The Black Ball Ferry Line brings many tourists to our
area to enjoy our festivals including Sequim Lavender, Juan de Fuca, and the Crab Fest. Black Ball
passengers also stay on the Peninsula to bike the Olympic Discovery Trail, visit Olympic National Park
and join guided tours throughout the County.
Black Ball has been in operation for over sixty years without a subsidy and has been integral to
bringing both visitors and commercial goods to Washington State and Vancouver Island. We would
not usually make such a request, but these are unusual times. The importance of Black Ball's success
extends through our entire region. The service is a conduit for west coast supply chains for the U.S.
and Canada. The ramifications of their continued operation are similar to that provided by an
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international airport. Every effort must be made to protect this very important economic driver for
our regional economy.
We therefore request that you give a financial priority to this extremely important financial engine for
Clallam County and the entire Olympic Peninsula. This is vitally important for our entire region.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF CLALLAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mark Ozias, Chair Randy Johnson Bill Peach
CITY OF PORT ANGELES CITY OF FORKS
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Kate Dexter, Mayor Tim Fletcher, Mayor
CITY OF SEQUIM
Charlie Bush, City Manager
CLALLAM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL PORT OF PORT ANGELES
Colleen McAleer, Executive Director Steven Burke, Commission President
W SHINGTON STATE REPRESENTATIVE WASHINGTON STATE REPRESENTATIVE
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Mike Chapman, 24TH Legislative District Steve Tharinger, 24TH Legislative District
WASHINGTON STATE SENATOR
Kevin Van De Wege, 24TH Legislative District
Enclosures:
Letter—Tourism Coordinating Council
Letter— Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau
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