In Plymouth, seeing the potential need for a convention center in the greater Plymouth—South Shore area, Lea Filson, of See Plymouth, looked to the state for funding to pay for a study.
Filson says See Plymouth pursued a budget earmark.
“From the Legislature, not this year, but last year, and thanks to Representative Muratore and Senator Moran , we got a $150,000 budget earmark to do a study. And the feasibility study is to figure out the best location for a South Shore convention center.”
Filson’s next step was to organize a steering committee.
“We found the company that was best suited—that has built convention centers all over the county, both large small and medium size. Probably by the end of the year, we’ll get the feasibility study to tell us the best location—whether or not the convention center would work here. We kind of know it will because there are no convention centers between Boston or Providence, Rhode Island, so we have a real need for a larger space.”
Stephen Cole of The Foundation agrees, saying that Plymouth is already a regional destination for tourists, and, “…what’s more, there’s five million people that live within 40 miles of Plymouth. And it’s not just conventions that would locate here, have an event here, from across the country—there’s a lot of people who need a space larger than 200, 300, 400 people right here in Plymouth.”
