THE JEFFERSON CONVENTION COMPLEX EQUALS DOLLARS FOR THE BIRMINGHAM METRO AREA
By: Frank Poe

Birmingham, AL -- Recent studies from the Birmingham Convention-Visitors Bureau have indicated the convention/tourism industry in Birmingham and Jefferson County provides approximately $1.0B in economic activity annually to our region. Of the approximately $1.0 billion in economic activity associated with the convention/tourism industry in our region, the BJCC represents an estimated
$400M of this amount.

In our most recent updated analysis for the planned convention center expansion, the economic activity projections for the expansion facilities
alone, would generate over 2,000 jobs, and provide a direct economic activity in excess of $600M over the first five years of the expanded facilities operation. Further, the tax dollars generated - sales tax and occupational tax - over the same 5-year period would be in excess of $60.0M.

Therefore, if you were to further analyze these projections for $35.0M dollars in tax support annually, the BJCC would generate over $500M in
annual economic activity - with over 3000 jobs added to our local economy. The BJCC alone would represent in full and part time employment for current and expanded facilities over 500 jobs.

Not a bad return on investment.

Further, as you consider the growth in the convention and entertainment industry, our community and region are being left behind by our competition. Currently, the BJCC can accommodate 35% of the available convention/tradeshow industry. Our position in the market place has eroded over time, as other communities develop their meetings and exhibition
facilities. For Birmingham to remain competitive, first class, flexible facilities are required to meet the requirements of this industry. The planned expansion to the BJCC would allow the BJCC to expand its market potential to over 70% of the convention/tradeshow industry. An almost two
fold increase in our business opportunities.

An additional area more difficult to quantify in dollars/cents is quality of life considerations. Consider for a moment, if Birmingham did not have the BJCC today - developed under the leadership of civic-minded visionaries of the past. Community leaders, which faced similar challenges for a number of "nay Sayers". Consider what our community would miss out on today, if the
BJCC did not exist. Our community would not have the Broadway Series, the Ballet's performance of "The Nutcracker", the BASS MASTERS, the circus,
Disney on Ice, Billy Joel/Elton John, NCAA basketball competition and another 900 plus events enjoyed by our citizens, visitors, and international
guests. How do you value those quality of life issues? If civic leaders and visionaries did not advance such projects as the museum, Civil Rights
Institute, the Zoo, etc (all of which don't generate the level of economic activity dollars the BJCC does), what would our community be? Our citizens
would travel to other cities in our region to enjoy these events, attend conferences and a host of other entertainment activities, spending dollars
in those cities.

With the recent commitment by Jefferson County toward funding an expansion of the BJCC, we are within striking distance of achieving our goal for
annual debt service funding necessary to support an expansion to the BJCC, in the form of a multi-purpose facility. The BJCC is working achieve the
remaining funding commitments from the State of Alabama as well as the City of Birmingham. Each of these entities are benefactors of not only the tax
revenues, job growth and economic activity, but also the development of a major venue in our region for retaining our current convention/entertainment
business as well as expanding our business opportunities.

Our complex today and planned expansion - provide for the entertainment, education, and visitor exposure for our citizens as well as generate
significant economic activity and tax dollars. Not a bad investment of resources in our community.


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