Events at the Vicksburg Convention Center from Oct. 1 through March 31 generated an economic impact of $3.5 million in Vicksburg, according to information released this week by the convention center and VenuWorks, the Ames, Iowa-based company that manages the convention center for the city.

Convention center executive director Annette Kirklin, who was named executive director in November, has a proven track record of success. She was the executive director of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation. During her tenure the SCHF saw tremendous growth in services offered and landmark renovations to the Southern Cultural Heritage Center.

According to information from the convention center, a total of 50 events were held at the venue during the first half of the fiscal year, including nine conventions, 11 banquets, nine meetings/conferences and eight receptions.

Conventions generated the highest attendance with 9,415 people coming to the center and created an economic impact of $3.16 million in the city. Banquets were second with 2,882 people and generated $72,050 in economic impact, while meetings and conferences attracted 988 people, producing an impact of $60,000.

“That’s what the convention center does for the City of Vicksburg,” Kirklin said. One thing is for sure, the SCHF benefitted from her passion for our community and now so does the convention center.

Kirklin has more than 19 years of experience in marketing, graphic design, show and convention management, event planning, communications and public relations.

The mayor has a vision to make Vicksburg one of the premier tourist destinations in the state. He was instrumental in changing the language in the city’s contract with VenuWorks to allow the city to have a voice in who would head the VCC.

No one knows Vicksburg and what the city has to offer like someone who lives in and loves Vicksburg. Kirklin has been a Vicksburg resident for 25 years now and has previously said “Vicksburg is such a great place. I want to get people to understand what Vicksburg needs to thrive.”

What Vicksburg needs to thrive is a hotel attached to the convention center. The drumbeat for a hotel exclusively for the convention center began two years ago, when a report prepared for VCC’s private operators said the split-level convention venue needed to expand by more than 110,000 square feet and a 150-room hotel for convention-goers wouldn’t hurt.

With Mississippi Hardware closed after 78 years on Washington Street, 16,000 square feet sits empty across the street. Imagine how Kirklin could market Vicksburg with a hotel attached to the convention center.