Ag center remains on schedule to open in March
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 15, 2017 5:50 AM
Construction of the $20 million Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center is 75 percent complete and remains on schedule to open March 1.
"We are doing well, and everything is on time," said James Wade, Maxwell Center venue director/general manager. "They are finishing up the drywall in the expo area. It should be completed within the week. It is completed in the offices and painting started.
"It is really starting to look nice."
The grand opening in March will be spread across four days with a mix of both public and private events.
The idea, Wade said, is to ensure that different groups and demographics have the opportunity to see what the center will have to offer.
Wade, who was hired in May, oversees the rental or west side of the center that is actually made up of two areas.
The east side is the office area that will house the Cooperative Extension Service, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Wayne County Soil and Water. Kevin Johnson, Wayne County Extension Service director, will oversee that area.
Other staff will be added over the next several months.
The county is advertising for a director of sales and marketing for the Maxwell Center.
"I am looking for an individual to join our team who will take ownership in our building and has the ability to provide the best service possible to our clients and patrons," Wade said.
Application forms are available in the county's Human Resources Department and online at www.waynegov.com.
The center will be available for reunions, weddings and similar local events. People would simply call or go to the center to schedule those kind of events, Wade said.
But the goal is to attract regional and statewide events -- events that must be pursued, Wade said. That will be particularly true once a hotel is built on the lot adjoining the center, he said.
"You cannot sit back and wait for the phone to ring," Wade said.
Pursuing those events will be one of the duties of the director of sales and marketing, he said.
Some of those events are booked years in advance, and that is why it is so important to hire a marketing director as soon as possible, Wade said.
Also, one person cannot run a building that will be used seven days a week year-round, he said,
Work is ongoing to establish rental fees, and Wade said he hopes to start booking events in October for when the Maxwell Center opens.
"There has not been a building here like this before," he said.
When someone rents space at the center someone on staff will walk them through the entire process, such as possible room layout, he said.
"When you come in that day everything will be ready for you," Wade said. "It is full service so we do the work so that you do not have to come in and do it."
It will provide a variety of in-house services including beverages, audio-visual, internet access and electrical and trade show decorating services.
The staff will work with regional caterers to offer a list of food options.
Fundraising efforts to help pay for the project are continuing as well.
Wayne County commissioners will consider approval of retail pricing for The Maxwell Center Brick Pavers Campaign when they meet Tuesday, Sept. 19.
The proposed sizes and costs are: $125 for 4-by-8-inch pavers; $250 for 8-by-8-inch pavers without logo; and $500 for
8-by-8-inch pavers with logo.
Also during that meeting, commissioners will consider approval of booking guidelines to establish the goals of the Maxwell Center and the types and priorities of bookings that will result in the success of the buildings.
General goals include:
* Maximize out-of-town attendance and expenditures by convention and trade show delegates, attendees and exhibitors.
* Maximize hotel occupancy, food, beverage and sales revenues from convention, exhibition, trade show and meeting business.
* Generate activity with local events that economically impact the greater community.
* Minimize operating deficits to the extent possible within the framework of the
objectives.
* Generate repeat bookings.
* Allow each client to evaluate and make suggestions for increasing their satisfaction with the event
experience.
The guidelines will include event classifications, for example conference, meeting, banquet, etc., and the priority with which the different types of events are booked.
For instance, a small meeting of 50 people would not be booked as far out as a conference of 800 attendees since the county would not want to tie up part of the venue with something small, when something larger may come along.
The guidelines also list how the county will deal with leads on events, what deposits will be required, and what other charges may be incurred by client.
The center, located at 3114 N. Wayne Memorial Drive, will be 1.5 acres under roof, and its assembly hall will seat 800 in a banquet setting and more than 1,500 when set up for a speaker.
It will hold 70 booths for a trade show or similar event.
Moveable partitions allow the room to be divided up into four different-sized rooms. There will be several smaller classrooms, too, he said.
For more information, visit themaxwellcenter.com.