Courtesy Owensboro Convention Center
OWENSBORO, Ky. — The Green River Firefighters Association in July became the first convention to book the soon-to-open Owensboro Convention Center.
The firefighters signed a multiyear contract to host the GRFA Officers School at the center beginning in February 2015.
One of the state’s largest training conferences, the officer’s school attracts nearly 1,200 attendees during its four days. The GRFA will meet in Owensboro in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Local firefighters, GRFA members and elected officials attended the official signing in downtown Owensboro near the center’s construction site.
The deal marks the school’s return to Owensboro, where it began 24 years ago. It was held in the city until the Executive Inn was closed a few years ago. The school moved to Lexington in 2009.
“We never wanted the officers school to move from Owensboro in the first place, and it was unfortunate that we had to move it once the Executive Inn closed,” said Ricky King, president of the Green River Firefighters Association.
“This type of event is precisely why Owensboro is building this first-class facility, to host these types of positive economic events in the community,” said Dean Dennis, Global Spectrum’s general manager for the Owensboro Convention Center. “We are thrilled to have our first signed convention contract and look forward to many more as we move closer to the 2013 opening.”
The Owensboro Convention Center is set to open December 2013 and has several events and contracts in various stages of confirmation. Global Spectrum will manage the center.
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