GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Tuesday’s vote from Green Bay’s Redevelopment Authority to approve the county’s multi-million dollar proposal to fund a new expo hall was a major step in the right direction according to Brown County Deputy Executive Jeff Flynt.
The vote was unanimous, 5-0, to approve the plan.
Flynt says Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach and Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt have agreed to support each other in an effort to better the community.
“It’s an understanding the county will support the city of Green Bay and their efforts to keep downtown a premiere destination and the city in turn, will continue to support the entire county as a regional destination for tourism,” said Flynt.
One of the concerns was that the KI Convention Center and new expo center would be in competition with each other but Flynt says that’s just not the case.
“You can simultaneously have events at the KI Convention Center that caters to one set of conventions and events and attractions and you can also have an expo hall for those larger events.”
The plan allows $78 million in room tax money to help pay for the $93 million expo center.
$15 million would also come from the county’s half percent sales tax plan.
“It seems that this time to be pretty clear sailing through,” Flynt said.
The Green Bay city council votes on the amended agreement on August 15 and the Brown County board on August 16.
If all is approved, the State Department of Revenue will to be notified that the half percent sales tax would go into effect January 1, 2018.
Flynt says construction on the new expo hall might not happen until 2020 or 2021 because the Brown County Arena books 3 years in advance,
