Privately funding an arena in Kalamazoo might finally make the oft-proposed project palatable. But will it boost the local economy, and could taxpayers foot some of the bill after all?
KDPS at the North Mall in Downtown Kalamazoo (Photo by Jeana Gondek)
KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) Wednesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a series of bills into law, including one that would allow Kalamazoo to have a downtown event center.
House Bill 4816, authored by Rep. Brandt Iden, creates the “Regional Event Center Financing Act.” That bill would allow “certain counties that meet listed population parameters to establish an event center financing program,” according to a release from Governor Whitmer’s office.
âThis legislation simply gives Kalamazoo County and others of similar size the same tools to help develop convention centers that larger Michigan counties already use,â Iden said in a statement regarding the bill. âThese developments boost tourism and keep downtowns vibrant. They create jobs, attract visitors and provide new opportunities in communities across Michigan.â