[Loscho_enews] Fw: Heritage Center Winter Newsletter

[Karen Prasse]

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "Reed, Sam (Office)" <Sam at sos.wa.gov>
Sent: Tue, January 5, 2010 12:35:31 PM
Subject: Heritage Center Winter Newsletter
 
Dear Friends,
 
As we head toward the beginningof the Legislative Session for 2010, I am taking this opportunity to brief you on the latest news about the Washington State Heritage Center.
 
In the fall, I told you about programs already planned under the Heritage Center banner.  I am excited about those programs that will be underway this month with the exhibit opening January 11 in the lobby of my office on Washington’s First Women in Government in recognition of the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage in Washington State.  Also this month on January 30, we are presenting a fascinating program that combines the story of one of Washington’s most interesting pioneers, Stephen Duley Ruddell , with workshops on documenting one’s own family history .  We are eager to present these excellent programs that focus on how individuals, both in state office and as intrepid pioneers, moved our state forward during their lifetimes.  Their stories are inspiring and need to be told. Go to www.heritagecenter.wa.gov for all the details.
 
Today the Washington State Heritage Center project is at a crossroads.
The 2009 Legislature adopted a proviso that 1) directed us to reduce the budget and scope of the project to meet the anticipated revenue funding the building; 2) to research and recommend alternate, less costly sites for the Center; and 3) to report back to the 2011 Legislature.
 
With a great deal of hard work from the entire Heritage Center team, we reduced the budget from $141 million to $116 million without impacting the core mission of the Heritage Center: to educate Capitol visitors about Washington State and to provide a home for the State Library and State Archives.  In addition the State Capitol Committee unanimously recommended a new site, right at the entrance to the Capitol Campus that offers great visibility and a creates a welcoming entrance for all visitors to our beautiful Capitol. (If you are familiar with Olympia, the site is at the corner of 14th SE and Capitol Way, the direct access to I-5, and the current site of the Visitor Information Center.)
 
Even with the housing market downturn, our dedicated funding stream for the Heritage Center that relies on fees attached to real estate documents rebounded steadily. While not quite achieving our projections in the first half of 2009, it has recovered and continues to grow. The Heritage Center is not funded by the over-burdened state general fund.
 
Should the recommended site be adopted, we could with few impediments begin construction as soon as design is complete.  Demolition is minimal and there are no issues of tenant relocation. Costs of construction labor and materials are still low, but expected to rise as we move beyond this recession. This construction project will also provide several hundred well-paying jobs as well as significant sales tax revenue for the state…both are needed to help us move out of these hard times. With Legislative action this session we could break ground in early 2011 to take advantage of lower costs and to help the State’s revenue stream.
 
The Heritage Center is a gift to generations to come. What must not be lost, even in this dreadful economy, is vision for the future. Keeping the Heritage Center vision alive will pay great dividends for many generations of Washingtonians.
 
Thanks for your support of this great project. Best wishes for a very happy and healthy new year.
 
                                               
Sincerely,
SAM REED
Secretary of State