Expanding Our Horizons
The big picture just got a little bigger thanks to a few unforeseen yet very fortunate circumstances. Construction bids came in under budget providing the convention center with the opportunity to expand now rather than later — eliminating the expense and inconvenience when the convention center is fully operational. The City Council authorized the expansion after receiving lower than expected bids. This vision and commitment to building the most cost-efficient convention center ensures the City of Wilmington will continue to play a major role in attracting business to the region. Originally planned to open in Spring of 2010, the enhanced expansion is expected to delay the opening by only 90 days. By opting to include the addition of 12,000 SF of meeting rooms with the initial construction, the project will be completed much faster, much more cost-efficient, and much less disruptive.
Groundbreaking for the Wilmington Convention Center was in December 2007. The convention center, scheduled to open Fall 2010, will bring many economic benefits to the City of Wilmington — creating hundreds of new jobs and generating $1.5 million per year in combined city and county taxes. The convention center will have the capacity to host events of up to 1,500 people, which will attract new groups of visitors to the city and to area businesses.
Once completed, residents and business travelers alike will enjoy a comfortable, pleasant business climate year-round at the Wilmington Convention Center.
