With the news yesterday that Pike County received a matching state grant to build an event center at Prides Creek Park just off of their I69 exit, Daviess County Economic officials are congratulating them, and continuing talk about a hotel, cultural, convention, job training center at the I69 exit east of Washington.
In today’s Washington Times Herald, reporter Mike Grant writes that officials hope to have plans in place for the facility by the end of the year.
County Visitor’s Bureau President Samantha Bobbitt was quoted as saying the Pike County Center will be positive locally as there will some spill over business here. She says visitors don’t recognize county lines and they look for places and events that fill their need. Bobittt says the Visitor’s Bureau might apply for a grant similar to what Pike County received but plans have to get further along.
Daviess County Economic Development Corporation President Ron Arnold told the newspaper they are working through the Regional Opportunities Initiative that is part of the Lilly Endowment Grant and are looking to identify local partners. He says all of that are the keys to landing the hotel and local involvement.