Port seeks tourism data before backing symphony request

WENATCHEE — A $25,000 funding request from the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday prompted a broader conversation at the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority. Not one about the value of the arts, but about what the Port is structured to fund.

The symphony, preparing for its 80th anniversary season, sought support through the Port’s Partners in Economic Development program. About $39,000 remains in that funding pool for the year.

Executive Director Anton Zotov described a season that includes four core concerts, sold-out Nutcracker performances and collaborations with regional and international artists. He argued that the orchestra generates economic activity beyond ticket sales, bringing visitors who dine, shop and sometimes stay overnight in the Wenatchee Valley.

“When people come to downtown Wenatchee, they’re not only paying for the ticket,” Zotov said. “They’re also spending their money in the downtown core area.”

Commissioners, however, focused on a narrower question: how much of that spending comes from outside Chelan and Douglas counties.

“Our policy is based on the idea of bringing visitors from outside our taxing district in,” Commissioner Richard DeRock said. “They’re bringing outside revenue in. That’s what we’re trying to encourage.”

DeRock made clear his concern was not with the symphony’s quality or community role.

“It’s not saying it’s not a good service,” he said. “It’s just not what we do.”

The Port’s economic development funding criteria prioritize measurable tourism impact — specifically, attracting dollars that would not otherwise circulate within the district. Commissioners asked for clearer data on out-of-county attendance, hotel stays and economic return on investment.

“I have a hard time understanding” the projected $150,000 to $250,000 impact listed in the application, Commissioner Jim Huffman said, adding that he would like to see ticket sales analyzed by ZIP code to better understand where audiences are coming from.

Youth Orchestra Director Michelle Vaughn noted that students and families travel from Grant and Kittitas counties, sometimes spending entire days in Wenatchee for rehearsals and performances. Board Director Tom McNair emphasized the orchestra’s regional reach and growing reputation, pointing to collaborations with touring acts and performances outside the valley.

“There’s potential here,” McNair said, arguing that additional marketing could expand the orchestra’s draw.

Commissioner JC Baldwin suggested that if the tourism case proved limited, the board might consider funding at a lower level.

“Maybe the commission would consider funding at a much lower level,” Baldwin said, noting the number of organizations competing for a limited pool of dollars.

Still, the core issue remained criteria. The Port’s program is not a general arts grant fund. It is designed to leverage public dollars toward activities that demonstrably bring new spending into the region.

“We’re not saying it’s not appropriate,” DeRock said. “We’re saying it has to meet what we set out for it to do.”

By the end of the discussion, commissioners encouraged the symphony to return next month with stronger data — including ZIP code analysis of ticket sales and clearer evidence of out-of-district attendance.

“If you’ve got the data to back it up, you’ve got my support,” DeRock said. “I just need to see it.”

The board, on a deliberate procedural motion from Huffman intended to encourage WVSO to come back, voted to table the request, leaving the door open for a revised application.

In the process, commissioners also turned their attention to their own procedures, discussing whether grant applications should receive additional pre-screening or commissioner input before appearing on a public agenda — not to prevent requests, but to avoid surprises for applicants.

The exchange served as a reminder that public funding carries defined purposes, even when the underlying organization enjoys broad community support.

For the symphony, and for other groups considering a request, the message was clear: show the outside draw, document the return, and the conversation shifts.

Governance, commissioners suggested Tuesday, is not about saying no to good ideas. It is about defining which good ideas fall within the mission entrusted to them, and asking for the data to prove it.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media