The City of Groesbeck Hosting Grand Opening of New Groesbeck Convention Center
Groesbeck, TX (PRWEB) March 24, 2014 -- A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place in front of the new Groesbeck Convention Center at approximately 4:30 pm with a prayer of dedication and the National Anthem, followed with remarks from State Senator Kyle Kacal. There will be public recognition of the Original Red Stocking Follies leading to an open house celebration with food and festivities provided by local merchants.
The Grand Opening marks the first opportunity for the citizens of Groesbeck, and the surrounding communities, to tour this new facility and check out its amenities, such as: The Grand Hall with two 80” flat screen monitors that accommodate up to 320 people for banquet style seating, The Club Room with 70” flat screen that accommodates up to 100 via classroom style, full caterer’s kitchen, warming kitchen, and state of the art audio/visual and WiFi equipment.
The festivities will include: entertainment featuring a DJ and a live band, a commemorative photo booth hosted by FaceBooth Photo Booths, with additional photography provided by Photo Trappings Photography by Brandi Garz, Sindrarae Photography, and Jamie Nicole Photography. Food to be supplied by: Brookshire's of Groesbeck, Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant, Billy B's Restaurant, Win Hing Chinese Restaurant, Stevens Grocery, Bush's Chicken, Lisa's Cakes, and Waco's Bestyett Catering. Decorations provided by Pendley Productions and Henderson Flowers.
The new convention center is the culmination of years of toil and effort to offer a Civic Center for the Groesbeck community. For years, the fund raising efforts were spearheaded by members of the Red Stocking Follies – a local community organization who traditionally put on classic variety shows – and who had donated the property for the previous Civic Center. In recent years, the plan was to raise the funds to have an entirely new facility built just west of downtown, near the Groesbeck City Park. Many in the community, including Jim Longbotham, who served temporarily as City Administrator in 2012, continued to search for means to provide the community with a new facility sooner, rather than 10 years later.
In early 2012, while driving past the empty building on Navasota Street, Jim Longbotham had a very interesting idea of converting the unsightly building into a new civic center. With the support of Mayor Jackie Levingston, his idea was proposed to the Groesbeck City Council. Last spring, with funding provided by a bond issue, the new civic center – now named the Groesbeck Convention Center - would be built within the old building. The design build project would be completed by K-4 Construction, LLC and David Wright, Architect.
The project was overseen by the Groesbeck Convention Center Advisory Board consisting of: Mayor Jackie Levingston, Jim Cox, City Administrator, Jim Longbotham, Chairman; Bobbie Jean King, Larry Stewart, Darla Wurtz, Martha Stone, Arleen Taveras, Co-Chair, and Carl Jesse Jackson. Upon completion, Mayor Levingston said: “As Mayor, it is my hope, and the hope of the community, that this facility will honor the members of the Red Stocking Follies who saw a need, had a vision, and provided the Groesbeck Civic Center. As elected officials, we are pleased to have the Follies’ organization donate the original property to us and we’re also excited that you, the tax payers voted not once but twice, for us to make plans for a newer, user friendly venue. We believe that the citizens in Groesbeck will be proud to be identified with the new convention center.”
For more information or bookings for the Groesbeck Convention Center, please contact Jim Cox at 254-729-3894.
Jim Cox, City Of Groesbeck, http://www.cityofgroesbeck.com/, 254-729-3293, [email protected]
Share this article