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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTharinger Field Hall Letter of Support March 10, 2025 Representative Steve Tharinger PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 Re: 2025-2027 Biennium Capital Budget - Port Angeles Waterfront Center $4M Dear Representative Tharinger, After meeting with you last month we are well aware you are doing so much for the Port Angeles Community including tracking the request for Field Arts and Events Hall. Considering the City’s top priority is an Adequate and Non-Regressive Tax structure we want to emphasize that support for our local projects can be better achieved by improving our State tax structure. Today we are writing to express our support for the inclusion of Field Arts & Events Hall in Port Angeles in the 2025-2027 biennium Capital Budget. We sincerely appreciate your strong advocacy for this funding, which is critically important to the long-term success and stability of our overall Downtown and the Port Angeles Waterfront Center Campus. This $4 million appropriation would be a major step towards eliminating the remaining pandemic-induced construction costs. Field Hall suffered from the highest spikes in inflation and interest rates in American history, resulting in massive pricing escalations at the close of the Covid-19 pandemic and the following months. Considering the next step on the Waterfront Campus is the new Marine Discovery Center, it is critically important that Field Hall be made whole after these challenges circumstances so that the future of culture and nearshore science education can move forward without lingering Field Hall challenges. Early achievements include substantial contributions to the region's economy and workforce development:  Over 75,000 visitors have patroned Field Hall since its opening  An annual economic impact of well over $7.5 million through ticket sales, visitor spending and job creation  Over 150 Washington-based visual and performing artists showcased each year  90+ low-cost or free events offered annually, making the arts accessible to all  Partnerships with 25 community organizations and 3 tribal partners, including the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Jamestown S’Klallam and Port Gamble S’Klallam  Educational programming for over 1,000 students annually, focusing on underserved populations through Peninsula Performs!  200+ volunteers contributing their time and talents 321 East Fifth Street Port Angeles, WA 98362 Docusign Envelope ID: 78CC2514-7E8B-46F1-9D09-57B52E85F064 March 10, 2025 Pag 2 2025-2027 Biennium Capital Budget - Port Angeles Waterfront Center $4M  $128+ million in business development and infrastructure upgrades catalyzed by Field Hall’s emergence  Field Hall and Peninsula College are entering our second year, as partners, for the Media Technician Certificate program  One graduate of the Media Technician Certificate program has secured a year-long paid apprenticeship at Field Hall funded by WorkSource A $4 million capital appropriation would significantly help Field Arts & Event Hall to close out all remaining capital expenses, allowing Field Hall to fully realize its community, arts, and economic mission, while eliminating the ongoing risk of funding operations. Receiving the appropriated funds will empower Field Hall to expand its work and mission, bringing additional events to the community and furthering workforce training opportunities with Peninsula College, to include an Arts Management Certificate. By closing this final Field Hall gap we will see the Port Angeles Waterfront Center Campus and Downtown continue to develop into an even greater game-changer for the North Olympic Peninsula! Sincerely, Kate Dexter Nathan A. West Mayor City Manager City of Port Angeles City of Port Angeles Cc: Representative Bernbaum Representative Callan Docusign Envelope ID: 78CC2514-7E8B-46F1-9D09-57B52E85F064