Jackson Free Press

Two years after opening its doors to great fanfare, the Jackson Convention Complex has brought in more than $49.7 million and spurred the city's economy by providing jobs, tax revenue, and thousands of visitors who spent money in the city, according to a report the Capital City Convention Center Commission issued this week.

The 2010 economic-impact summary report "Where Mississippi Meets the World" reveals that since opening two years ago, the convention center spent more than $2.4 million in employing local citizens in the food industry and in technology, landscaping and other services.

Attendance at the Jackson Convention Center increased over last year, with 146,635 people visiting the complex, compared to 128,590 visitors the previous year. The complex also extended its event days from 323 days in 2009 to 343 days in 2010.

The report states that the complex doubled its event job creation in the local economy from 2009, by providing $1.1 million to the local economy in 2010 compared to $583,143 in 2009. The report also recorded almost $1.3 million spent on goods and services in the local economy, compared to $815,244 the complex generated in local employment from 2009.

Jackson Convention Complex General Manager Linda McCarthy wrote in the report that the 330,000-square-foot facility has managed to successfully compete against convention centers in other states with adjoining convention-center headquarter hotels.

The city of Jackson is still trying to get its own convention center hotel in order for the convention center to host larger events. MJS Reality, a Texas development firm, has acquired the property for the hotel, but the start date on construction is on hold while the developers try to secure funding. The city has been laboring with contractors to begin work on the building since the term of former mayor Frank Melton.

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority, a quasi-independent body that works to secure property for the purpose of redevelopment, issued a request this Monday to the city of Jackson for an update on progress of the convention center hotel.

Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. did not immediately return calls for comment.