(November 12, 2008)--It's a driving force behind Bell County's Economy and a recent study shows the local Expo Center hasn't even reached it's potential, yet.

Each year the Expo Center brings in some $13 million, but a proposed expansion would increase that number closer to $20 million.

Now the question is how to fund the upgrades.

The talk right now is about adding a 150,000 square foot building to the Expo Center, which an independent study shows, would bring in more events and more tourists.

Local leaders want to increase the local hotel tax to fund the project, but doing so would require special legislation.

Built in 1987, the Bell County Expo Center was first constructed with the local youth in mind and is home to a youth fair that has given at least one participant a life goal.

"I decided I wanted to go to college and do things with my life and hopefully get into politics,” former FFA State President and Troy native Justin Self said. “So it's advanced me in a way that I can't imagine my life without."

The Expo Center hosts more than 250 events each year, bringing in some $13 million dollars to the local economy, but the addition of the a 150,000 square foot building would raise the impact to $19 million by attracting more events to the area, a recent study showed.

"The more things we can offer to individuals in the community, economic impact is certainly a trickle down affect of that as well as the quality of life,” Expo Center Board President Mitchell Jacobs said. “More things, more revenue, more fun."

To fund the $12 to $15 million project local leaders want to increase the current hotel tax rate by two percent, allowing tourists to pay for the project.

However, hotel owners not near the Expo center, wonder if the expansion would actually benefit their business.

"I would like to see that before I would be able to justify financially for their project,” Inn on the Creek owner Will Lowery said. “It's a great project but I don't know we are wear they should be looking for funding for the project."

Special legislation would have to be passed to allow Bell County to increase the tax, something cities such as Austin have done.

In any case, whatever funding method comes about, supporters of the Expo Center agree expansion is a must.

"Had we not grown to a point we are at right now, I can speak for myself and my peers, we wouldn't be wear we are,” Self said. “So I think it's doing a disservice to future generations if we don't continue that growth."

If and when the expansion takes place will all depend on funding.

Once that is in the bank, planning would begin almost immediately, with construction kicking off 12 to 18 months later.