HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Funding Letter to Kilmer PA Waterfront Center DocuSign Envelope ID: F5A423DE-F49A-4944-BAAB-81378D94FFD6
PORTANGELES321 East Fifth Street
WASH I N G T' O N , U . S . Port Angeles, WA 98362
March 31, 2022
Honorable Derek Kilmer
2059 Rayburn, House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
RE: FY23 Community Funding Project Request—Port Angeles Waterfront Center
Dear Representative Kilmer,
The Port Angeles City Council urges your favorable consideration of the Port Angeles Waterfront
Center's FY23 Community Funding Project Request recently submitted to your office. The Port Angeles
Waterfront Center's construction of the 41,000 sq.ft.Field Arts &Events Hall represents the largest,
privately funded, community-based,non-profit capital project ever undertaken on the North Olympic
Peninsula. Once complete,this facility will answer a long-term community need for a well-designed,
highly operable, state-of-the-art meeting and performance space available for year-round public use.
Support of the Port Angeles Waterfront Center project has been a priority of this Council and a stated
objective in the City's Comprehensive Plan since 2017. The entire campus and Field Hall Building will
provide a diversity of local benefits to businesses and residents. Specifically,it will implement a
conference center component that builds on the City of Port Angeles as a destination. Importantly, this
stands to deliver visitors, local spending, and overnight stays to businesses in our community year-round.
The seasonal nature of visitation on the peninsula has long been a challenge for local business models and
this investment delivers a positive resolution to that challenge. Completion of Field Arts &Events Hall
also stands to spark over$128 million in follow-up capital investment dedicated to an array of planned
projects located throughout the downtown core. Such an investment would represent the most significant
economic revitalization effort ever to occur in our community.
The Port Angeles Waterfront Center has raised nearly 3/4 of the funding it needs to complete Field Arts &
Events Hall within FY23, a remarkable effort for a community of our size.We believe the need is truly
justified, the plan sound, and the appropriation of federal monies to the project as an FY23 Community
Funding Project is undeniably in the public interest. The request has the complete support of the Port
Angeles City Council.
Sincerely,
DacuSigrred by:
W660451155E409.._
Kate Dexter
Mayor