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A-State Convention Center Developers Asks Jonesboro A&P to Reconsider

A diagram of the first floor of the Red Wolf Convention Center on Arkansas State University's Jonesboro campus.
Arkansas State University

  O’Reilly Hospitality Management is asking the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotions Commission to reconsider supporting the Arkansas State University convention center project. 

In March, the A&P Commission voted to fund the Keller Hyatt Place Hotel and Convention Center project to be located near I-555 along Browns Lane.  The 159-bed hotel and convention center is expected to cost about $27 million.

Later that month, the Delta Regional Authority awarded a grantof over $400,000 to A-State towards developing the O'Reilly project.  The projectis a 200 room Embasy Suites Hotel and Convention Center which is expected to cost up to $50 million.

The commission will have a special meeting today to discuss the letter O’Reilly submitted; asking to reconsider providing funds for the project.  Dr. Bill Smith, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications for A-State, told KASU News the university did not make any requests to the commission.

The commission will also discuss other funding requests unrelated to the center. 

The meeting will be held at the Municipal Building Council Chambers at 1:30.

A Northeast Arkansas native from Wynne, I’ve been involved with radio for about 15 years. I got my Bachelor of Arts degree from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, where I also served as an award-winning News Director for 2 years at KSWH-LP.