Hays chamber offers support to proposed convention center

The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce has formally expressed its support for a proposed convention center in Hays.

A letter drafted by chamber Executive Director Tammy Wellbrock on behalf of the board of directors was delivered to city officials Thursday.

“There are going to be those businesses that will directly benefit because a person is visiting this town for a conference,” Wellbrock said Friday, “but people need to remember there will be other indirect effects. Perhaps an attendee returns for a leisure trip … after experiencing something positive within our city.

“It’s very difficult to predict and measure, but the probability is so high that it will happen.”

Three proposed artist renderings of a new convention center in Hays. Yaeger Architecture, Overland Park.

The convention center, proposed to be located just south of Holiday Inn Express on Vine Street, would require the Hays City Commission to implement a new commercial improvement district — creating an additional sales tax for businesses in the area.

The most recent figure for that sales tax increase would be 0.65 percent.

Most, but not all, of the retail, restaurant and lodging businesses in the area would be included in the CID. The project, estimated to cost approximately $8 million, would be funded through the sale of bonds, which would be paid off by the sales tax and a proposed 2 percent increase in the transient guest tax. The bonds are scheduled to be paid off in 10 years, after which the CID would sunset.

The hotel/motel tax increase also would be up to city commissioners.

Wellbrock said the convention center, designed to seat approximately 500 people, would help raise awareness of Hays.

“We have more attention and awareness, whether statewide or regionally, of what our city has to offer,” she said. “If you build it, I truly believe they will come.”

In the letter, the chamber said a convention center would “provide numerous benefits to the community and have a lasting impact on our businesses for years to come.”

The Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development has been working on a convention center since the city publicly solicited bids from potential developers a few years ago and received no interest. That unanswered request-for-proposal followed poor reviews and complaints from patrons at the Ramada, which is the only other facility with full-service convention capabilities.

The proposed CID and transient guest tax increases have yet to be placed on a Hays City Commission agenda.