The following is a news release from the Lubbock County Expo Center,Inc.:
On Monday, April 8, 2019, Lubbock County Commissioners will consider a Memorandum of Understanding between Lubbock County and the Lubbock County Expo Center, Inc for next steps forward on the development and construction of the Lubbock County Expo Center.
“In November, Lubbock County voters, by almost 70 percent, said they supported the construction of an expo center and using proceeds from a Hotel Occupancy Tax and short-term car rental tax to help fund it,” said Randy Jordan, Lubbock County Expo Center, Inc steering committee member.
“Today, we are moving forward with the planning, funding, design, construction, and operations of this new facility the voters very clearly said they wanted,” Mr. Jordan stated.
Mr. Jordan states the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) being considered by the Lubbock County Commissioners Court will outline a scope of service and checklist of tasks necessary to begin the process of seeing the facility meet the goal of opening in 2021.
The MOU provides for:
- At the sole cost of Lubbock County Expo Center, Inc (LCEC), legal counsel will be hired to guide the creation of a Public Facilities Corporation to own the Lubbock County Expo Center, subject to the approval of Lubbock County. Again, no public funds will be used.
- LCEC will develop a clear path forward for the design and preliminary schedule for the completion of the various phases of the project.
- A written plan, approved by the parties, for the design, construction, and management of the facility. This will include private fundraising for a portion of the capital costs of the project.
“From day one, we have been excited with the potential for a public/private partnership to realize the vision of the Lubbock County Expo Center. Voters told us they wanted this project. And, by providing funding through the Hotel Occupancy Tax and short-term car rental tax, they provided a means to bring this project to completion without raising property taxes, which was important to all of us,” Mr. Jordan said.
“Now it is up to all of us to continue to work together, find the remaining funding commitments needed from private sources, and bring this to completion. I couldn’t be more excited or prouder of Lubbock county residents,” he added.
(News release from the Lubbock County Expo Center, Inc.)