As the Monroe County Council continues deliberations on a possible 1 percent food and beverage tax, residents continue to ask why an expansion of the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center is necessary.
About 15 residents and all seven Monroe County Council members attended a public meeting in Smithville Tuesday to discuss the convention center expansion project.
Many of those residents are not convinced that the proposed convention center expansion is ready to move forward.
“We have a good place to live,” said Don Moore, who serves on the Monroe County Redevelopment Commission. “A good place to live does not necessarily equal a good place to visit.”
Moore noted that many other locations of convention centers around the state have other attractions that draw residents in, including several that have minor league sports teams or casinos. He asked why people would want to come to Bloomington to visit.
Convention center proponents countered that Bloomington was one of the most desirable places for visitors. Talisha Coppock, director of Downtown Bloomington Inc., said that many conventions had been making do with the current convention center, but needed more space.
The center has lost about 100 groups’ business since 2008, she said.
“We need to take advantage of where our strengths lie, and hospitality is one of our strengths,” Coppock said.
It’s estimated that a convention center expansion would create about 200 jobs for the community and that visitors spend about $233 per trip.
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