LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Assistance for the development of a proposed event center in downtown Kalamazoo won approval Friday in the Michigan Senate.
State Representative. Brandt Iden had originally introduced the legislation in the state House to allow Kalamazoo County and other Michigan counties of similar size to set up funding mechanisms for regional event centers, which he says are critical for boosting convention, special event, and other tourism-related business.
“This legislation simply gives Kalamazoo County and others of similar size the same tools to help develop convention centers that larger Michigan counties already use,” said Iden, of Oshtemo Township. “These developments boost tourism and keep downtowns vibrant. They create jobs, attract visitors and provide new opportunities in communities across Michigan.”
Iden’s measure would extend some of the same financing options already available to Michigan’s largest counties to Kalamazoo, Ingham, Muskegon, and Washtenaw counties. The legislation would allow these counties – if their county commissions so choose — to implement an assessment on hotel rooms and other lodging facilities, with the proceeds funding regional event centers.
Iden says the TCF Center in downtown Detroit was substantially helped through a similar funding mechanism.
If the House concurs with Senate changes as expected next week, the measure would then head to Governor Whitmer for her signature.
