Putnam County’s Tourism Director said the idea of a conference center in downtown Cookeville could benefit the community.
A conference center, one of several ideas being considered in Cookeville’s project surrounding the Wilson property. Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Shan Stout said a conference center could complement the county’s new fairground.
“We really need these types of spaces to keep up with the number of people that are coming in trying to use our area, because we are strategically located between Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, and this footprint is a very powerful possibility for us,” Stout said.
Stout said additional hotels are crucial. Stout said a lack of rooms has been a barrier for years, preventing more events and conferences from being held here. Stout said a downtown conference center could put Cookeville ahead of some of its Middle Tennessee rivals.
“If you’ve not been to other rural communities where conferences are happening, you can’t really imagine what Cookeville is bringing to the table that some of the others are lacking,” Stout said. “So it is a beautiful opportunity for our downtown businesses to shine and to thrive further when you bring several hundred people to stay for a few days. They are going to, you know, up the sales blueprint and the spending for your area.”
Stout said this is not the first time a conference center in the downtown area has come up. The Wilson property had been sold to developers during the 2010s to build a large downtown hotel and conference center. That project fell through.
Cookeville’s Depot Street Project is also focusing on walkability. Stout said walkability is something that event holders consider when selecting a downtown location to host an event.
“If you go to a conference in a mass city and you have to drive across town, it may only be a five-mile drive to get somewhere, but it may be 45 minutes in your car due to traffic,” Stout said. “Imagine going to a conference or a training where you never have to get back in your car. You can walk to eat, you can walk for your attractions, you can walk for shopping, you can walk for live music, you can walk for a snack, and you can walk for leisure. It is again, very safe, very accessible. That is a benefit as an attractor for conferences and training.”
Stout said a conference center could increase visitor spending and hotel lodging dollars. Stout said the more both increase, the lower property taxes could be.