Dear Editor
It was reported in the Northside Sun in the September 25, 2026, issue that a feasibility study was not completed for the proposed Madison County Conference Center. As the executive director of the Madison County Business League & Foundation (MCBL&F) since April 2009, the conference center has been our signature project and a personal passion of mine for almost 20 years!
The MCBL&F contracted with a consulting firm in Chicago in 2014 that specializes in large projects of this nature. MCBL&F leadership and I presented this report to the Madison County Board of Supervisors in early 2015 to ask for their support. There was no interest at that time. In 2016 we contracted with the same consultant to revise the first feasibility study. It can be viewed on our website at: www.madisoncountybusinessleague.com.
CHJC_Madison_County_Conf_Ctr_Update.pdf
The study has been used by several developers since then who realize there is a great need for a center in our fast-growing county. PraCon Global Investment Group utilized the study as a resource in their preliminary plans. As a private developer, PraCon has completed their own current Proforma and STAR reports.
The Madison County Business League & Foundation (MCBL&F) is a member-driven organization of approximately 300 business leaders and decision makers in the Madison County and Metro Jackson area. The Madison County Business League and Foundation unites business, government, and community leaders to collaborate in strategic planning to sustain economic growth in Madison County by influencing infrastructure, health, education, workforce, and quality of life policies in partnership with the Madison County Economic Development Authority.
Despite being a leader in the State of Mississippi, Madison County does not have a conference or meeting facility to properly accommodate a gathering of more than 250 people. The Business League previously commissioned a Conference Center Feasibility Study which concluded that a conference center in Madison County is not only much needed but also positioned to be financially viable in its operations. A conference center would accommodate events for all aspects of the business community and provide significant economic benefits throughout Madison County.
The Business League firmly believes that there are numerous advantages to having a conference center in Madison County, including but not limited to the following:
1) A new conference center will have a projected local economic impact of more than $200 million dollars in direct spending by conventiongoers in Madison County.
2) A new conference center would provide a much-needed meeting, convention, and corporate event site for local companies and organizations that currently call Madison County home and would attract other organizations throughout the state and country.
3) A new conference center would provide an attractive marketing tool to utilize in negotiations with other companies looking to locate in Madison County.
The Business League believes that a viable conference center located in Madison County is in the best interest of economic development in Madison County and it will inure to the common benefit, and quality of life of the corporate and private citizens in the area.
Jan Collins
Executive Director
Madison County Business League & Foundation
