Lubbock County Expo Center leaders hope commissioners' blessing helps project over $7M hump

Members of the future Lubbock County Expo Center's governmental and private boards are hoping a letter penned in support of the project by the Lubbock County judge and backed by county commissioners will spur millions in donations to get construction started on the long-awaited project.

More than five years ago, Lubbock County voters overwhelmingly supported a plan to build a large, multipurpose exposition center in north Lubbock to host rodeos, livestock shows, concerts and other events. An increase to the county hotel/motel and short-term rental car taxes approved in that 2018 election are expected to fund around half the cost of the project, with a private steering committee to raise the rest.

The project is still $6.8 million short of its $87 million fundraising goal, officials said. That deficit has narrowed from $9 million in March and $17 million in October last year.

More: $6M grant from Moody Foundation narrows fundraising deficit for Lubbock County Expo Center

Randy Jordan, chairman of the private-side board of directors, previously told local media the architectural and construction plans for the facility are already completed, but construction on the 500,000-square-foot center at North Loop 289 and University Avenue will not begin until the committee is confident they have the funding to complete it.

"The next 90 days, we're putting on the full-court press," Jordan told the Lubbock County Commissioners Court during a regular meeting Monday. "We have just worked and worked and worked and we're not going to quit working."

Jordan, along with members of the public-side local government corporation, asked the court Monday to adopt a statement supporting the Expo Center in hopes to restore waning public confidence in the project.

"(Jordan has) been battling a perception or a skepticism out there from the general public that the county might not be 100% behind this," local government corporation member George McMahan told commissioners. "(Jordan is) going to restore his fundraising efforts based on that positive publicity, because we think as close as he is, that he can just push it over the top."

Jordan added, "Certainly a statement like this coming from the commissioners court would be very beneficial to our fundraising efforts, to be able to say to the public on a unified basis that we're all working together and so forth."

Commissioners did not take any action on the local government corporation's request at the Monday meeting, but they did give an informal nod to a public letter in support of the Expo Center presented by County Judge Curtis Parrish. Commissioner Gilbert Flores was not present at the meeting.

"The Lubbock County Expo Center will be a crown jewel for Lubbock. The county is committed to the Expo Center," Parrish's letter reads. "The county has taken all of its necessary steps, including the implementation and collection of the venue tax overwhelmingly approved by the Lubbock County voters. The county is now ready to move forward as soon as LCEC completes its private fundraising for phase one construction.

"The county supports LCEC efforts and encourages giving from the community foundations, corporations and individuals in order to close this remaining gap," it continues. "The Lubbock County Expo Center is a venue our community needs and deserves."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock County Expo Center leaders hope commissioners' blessing helps project over $7M hump