Public Learns More About Proposed Beaufort Conference Center

Leaders in Beaufort County are hoping to lure more visitors, and their money, to the area by building a conference center.

Officials have been exploring the possibility of building a conference center for the last four or five years.

Now the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce Visitor and Convention Bureau is asking for public input about the proposal and the possible locations for the building.

On Thursday, the Beaufort Regional Chamber officials held a forum, so folks could hear more about the proposal and voice their opinions.

"It gives us an opportunity to invite the public, get their input, and also work with our industry partners to hopefully make this a reality," said Bob Moquin, executive director of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Currently, the biggest meeting facility in Beaufort County holds more than 200 people. The planned conference center would seat one thousand people and hopefully attract large events.

"Usually delegates, people attending meetings, tend to spend actually higher cost per visit, so it's a greater return than, if you will, a leisure visitor," said Moquin.

Community leaders believe building a conference center is a natural step for the area.

"With the expansion of the number of hotel rooms that we have now, the next service that we really need to provide that will attract a broader audience is going to be a conference center," said J.W. Rone, executive director of Art Works, the Arts Council of Beaufort County.

Nine different sites are under discussion, and officials said they want to make sure any facility would be able to stand alone. 

"It's always easy to come up with the initial cash to build the building, but making sure you have the capacity, the staff, the understanding of how to keep that building full and generating the income that's needed," said Rone.

Officials are compiling the comments gathered at Thursday's meeting, and they will release a report in September.

As for funding, they hope to apply for grants and subsidies and work with public and private groups to generate the money.

They hope to have a fully operational conference center in two to five years.