County Exec Parisi's Alliant Energy Center Task Force Kicks off Work this Week

January 23, 2012
Casey Slaughter Becker, Office of the County Executive 608.267.8823 or cell 608.843.8858
County Executive

First Task Force Meeting Thursday; Additional Members Appointed
 

County Executive Joe Parisi announced today that he has assembled a diverse and talented group of 15 individuals to serve on his newly formed Expansion Exploration Task Force.  The task force will hold its first meeting to begin work on recommendations for facilities on the Alliant Energy Center (AEC) grounds, including the Exhibition Hall, this week.

 

“The AEC and Exhibition Hall have tremendous economic significance in our county,” said Parisi.  “This task force will enable us to take a fresh look at the grounds, and its facilities, to continue that proud tradition.  I’m looking forward to working with this talented group in the months ahead.”

 

Parisi selected former Dane County Executive and community leader, Rick Phelps, to serve as chair of his new Expansion Exploration Task Force.  As County Executive in the 1990s, Phelps led the effort to authorize construction of the current Exhibition Hall. 

 

The remainder of the task force is comprised of individuals with strong backgrounds in tourism, economic development, event promotions, agriculture, community relations, architecture, local government, and urban planning.  In the months ahead, they will use their expertise to study the grounds and its facilities and form recommendations for review by the County Executive and the public.  A full listing of task force members is attached.

 

Essential to the task force process will be consideration and identification of innovative partnerships or other investment opportunities that will aid in the funding of final task force recommendations.

 

Since it was opened to the public in 1995, the Exhibition Hall has been host to a diverse line-up of trade shows, entertainment acts, community expos, and world-renowned agriculture events such as the World Dairy Expo.  The 164-acre Alliant Energy Center and its facilities, including the Exhibition Hall and Veterans Memorial Coliseum, are estimated to provide nearly $88 million in direct local economic impact.

 

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