Kelso‑Longview Chamber urges county partnership to turn tourists into local revenue; warns visitor center funding, Squatchfest at risk

The Kelso‑Longview Chamber told Cowlitz County commissioners that tourism can be a practical engine for local economic development — but only if the county moves from planning into implementation and partners with the chamber and municipalities to convert pass‑through visitors into overnight stays and local spending.

Bonnie, the chamber presenter, said the visitor center is a key conversion point for travelers and that the center’s current funding model is fragile. “We get 6 to 12,000 unique visitors a year at the visitor center,” she said, adding that Kelso had awarded a $100,000 ELTAC grant that supports operations but that funding is in jeopardy for 2027. The chamber currently supplements operations when ELTAC funding falls short and provides a $20,000 annual contribution from Katz County Tourism (as stated in the presentation). Annual operations range from roughly $120,000 to $160,000 depending on staffing and seasonality.

The presenter described Squatchfest (a January event run by the chamber) as an economic driver that brings new visitors into the county. She said 52% of advanced ticket buyers were from outside the immediate area (including 14% from outside Oregon and Washington), but that ticket revenue and ELTAC support fell in 2026. “We were down in estimated revenue by 10%,” the presenter said, and explained the event had increased sponsorship and vendor sales but faced higher facility rental and staffing costs.

Throughout a lengthy Q&A, commissioners and attendees pressed the chamber on implementation details, local advertising, and whether county tourism planning and the chamber’s operational role should be better aligned. The chamber urged a county seat at the tourism strategy table and suggested the county consider direct operational support for the visitor center and event sponsorship to sustain regional marketing ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption.

The presentation also drew questions about the chamber’s neutral posting policy after the chamber reposted letters (including a message from the Humane Society of Southwest Washington); the presenter said the chamber reposts official community items and “shared both” the Humane Society and the county’s response. The board and presenter agreed there is room for improved coordination among the county, municipalities, ports and tourism stakeholders.

Commissioners did not take a formal action on funding at the meeting; the presentation closed with a request that the county participate in strategy implementation and consider funding or coordination options prior to major upcoming tourism milestones.