The Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center is recovering from the pandemic.
The last couple years have been hard on the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, according to CEO Abe Ambroza. Abe told us that being closed during the pandemic resulted in a major loss of revenue, but the Civic Center's savings, donations, and a shuttered venues grant helped them over the difficult stretch and they expect to be very busy this year. "The rest of 2022, our weekends at the Exhibit Hall are full. That's a great success. That wasn't always the case. We've really been gaining momentum there." Abe says they're now working to fill more weekdays, and they've found that their biggest competitor for weekday rentals is Zoom because it offers business people a quick and easy way to meet without having to leave their offices.
The Civic Center will also become the booking agent for the Greater Lima Region Park and Amphitheater when it is completed next year. He says he uses event management software called Priava too book events. It lets him view the schedules for every room he has available as far into the future as he needs. When building his schedule, Abe says he starts with all the regular events: the Lima Symphony Orchestra, Lima Area Concert Band, dance recitals and graduations, then he books the Broadway series, any remaining dates are filled with either national or local talent.
Some new improvements expected at the Civic Center this year include renovating the former offices in the mezzanine into a high tech mezzanine suite with a video wall. Abe says the suite can be used as an executive boardroom that will offer businesses the ability to host hybrid meetings with both in-person and digital attendees. There will also be a new roof put over the Crouse Performance Hall lobby, an HVAC upgrade, new divider doors in the Exhibit Hall and well as new laptops and tablets.
Also at Monday's meeting, we presented Lima Rescue Mission Director Chuck Ferguson with a check for $335.50 - the proceeds from Rottery. And we again passed the bucket to collect donations for the victims of the tornadoes in Kentucky. We will be sending them a total of $500. Thank you to everyone who contributed!
