Support from the state Legislature and a recently inked contract with a professional rodeo company could bolster efforts to bring a 7,500-seat, climate-controlled arena to Lewis County.
Organizers have been lobbying for the multi-million dollar Southwest Washington Regional Equestrian Center. The multi-use facility would host an array of national and regional equestrian events, as well as concerts and truck rallies. A site for the $80 million project, slated with a summer 2009 completion date, hasn't been determined.
While project leader Larry Hewitt would prefer the arena to be built solely by private investors, he said he wants the choice of a public partnership.
A bill sponsored by state Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, who sits on the REQ Center's advisory board, could help with the project's financing.
"We expect a pretty good reception (from the Legislature), especially after the mine closure," Hewitt said, referring to last month's shutdown of the Alberta-owned Centralia coal mine, leaving 600 workers jobless.
Alexander's measure would extend an expired deadline that allows municipalities to form public facility districts. Once approved by local elected officials, these independent districts would funnel a portion of the sales tax collected within these areas to fund the REQ Center's construction, according to Hewitt.
"So taxes don't actually go up," he said.
Private funds would still have to pay for a third of the costs, Hewitt said.
Hewitt added that a recent agreement with the Frontier Rodeo Co. of Winnie, Texas, gives credibility to the project.
"They're going to produce all the rodeo and bull riding events," he said. "That's like having Wilt Chamberlain come in and run your basketball clinics."
HOWEVER, a recent feasibility study, commissioned by the city of Centralia, highlighted the REQ Center's challenges, including a lack of a single anchor tenant.
Hewitt said he wasn't too surprised by the study's findings. Not relying on a sole tenant, such as a sports franchise, had been a goal from the beginning in lieu of a more diversified mix, such as barrel racing, concerts and car shows, he said.
"It makes more sense to me to have 10 really quality national events that can commit to an on-going basis," Hewitt said.
While there are 3,000 hotel rooms within 25 miles of Centralia, the study found a shortage of "higher end" accommodations in the Twin City area.
"This will present a challenge to the proposed REQ Center if (it) intends to target national events," the study said.
Hewitt described this problem as "self-correcting," in that the arena would provide a catalyst for more hotels and other visitor infrastructure for Lewis County. He said that the Great Wolf Resort under construction at Grand Mound would provide an additional 390 hotel rooms.
"This happens everywhere that these things are built," Hewitt said. "There's a lot of interest focused on this area. People are coming in."
The feasibility study reviewed and pros and cons of four potential sites for the arena: the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, Fords Prairie, the Flying T Ranch and a Winlock site at exit 63 from Interstate 5. The study said that Centralia's Department of Community Development did not want to develop the area around the Flying T Ranch, next to a sewage treatment plant. The Winlock site was also discounted in the study because of zoning concerns. However, Hewitt said that has changed, as he had recently learned from Winlock city officials that rezoning wouldn't be necessary for the proposed site.
Hewitt said he hopes to expand the list to at least a total of 10 sites before a decision is made.
"There's quite a bit of property out there that looks like it could be used for this," he said.
HEWITT ISN'T the first person who has wanted to build an equestrian center in Lewis County. Maureen Harkcom and Ken Olsen applied to build an indoor facility, large enough to hold nearly 7,000 spectators, on a 280-acre parcel they own at Ethel, as part of Happ's Inc., in the late 1990s. They wanted the arena, like the REQ Center, to host an array of national and regional events, from rodeos to gun shows. However, permitting hurdles with Lewis County have slowed the project, Harkcom said. The delays eventually led to an investor backing out in 1998, she said.
"We've just been fought at every step," she said. "It's just been so frustrating. We think we're trying to do something good for Lewis County with a safe, educational facility."
The couple still hosts national and local events, from the American Polocrosse games to local pony clubs, on their property.
"We draw people here from nine states and two Canadian provinces," Harkcom said.
Recently, they finished building a 38,000-square-foot training barn. Next, Harkcom said, the couple will build an RV park with about 80 spots. The goal is to slowly build and complete parts of the original master plan as proof to potential investors that the couple is serious about the project, she said.
"We're not some fly-by-night outfit," Harkcom said.
Harkcom said she was confused by the support behind the REQ Center. When the Happ's idea was presented to lawmakers eight years ago, it was brushed away, she said.
"We weren't asking for a handout, but for advice," she said. "Ours is all done with private money."
Hewitt said he knew a little about the Happ's project, but hadn't spoken with Harkcom nor Olsen. He added that he would like to work with them as his project progresses.
"We have no intention of trying to run over anyone," Hewitt said. "This is a huge undertaking, and we're laying the groundwork nationally. … It takes a lot to put one of these together. We've spent a year just on the politics of it."
