A New Chapter for Ridgeland: Conference Center and Hotel Project Moves Forward
RIDGELAND, MS — The City of Ridgeland is excited to share details regarding an important milestone in the community’s continued growth. In partnership with Madison County and PraCon Global Investment Group, plans are moving forward for a new conference center and a 250-room full-service resort-style conference hotel that will strengthen tourism, expand economic opportunities, and create a long-awaited meeting and event facility.
For years, Ridgeland has been recognized as one of Mississippi’s premier places to live, work, shop, and play. While the City offers exceptional amenities and a central location, it has lacked a venue capable of hosting larger conferences, conventions, trade shows, banquets, and regional events. As a result, many organizations that have expressed interest in meeting in Ridgeland have had to look elsewhere. The new conference center is designed to change that.
Together with the adjoining hotel, the project will position Ridgeland to attract conferences and events that generate new tourism and economic activity throughout the community. Visitors attending these events will stay in local hotels, dine in area restaurants, shop in local stores, and enjoy attractions across Ridgeland and Madison County, creating benefits that extend far beyond the conference center itself.
“This project represents an investment in Ridgeland’s future,” said Mayor Gene McGee. “It creates opportunities for local businesses, strengthens our tourism industry, and helps ensure our City remains competitive in attracting visitors and events that contribute to our economy.”
Unlike many traditional development projects, this public-private partnership is designed to create new revenue rather than rely on existing tax dollars. Much of the financing is supported through tourism tax revenues generated by visitors who would not otherwise be coming to Ridgeland. Without the conference center and hotel, those revenues would not exist.
Under Mississippi law, tourism rebates are commonly used to encourage developments of this nature, with developers typically retaining those funds as part of the incentive package. In this case,
PraCon Global Investment Group President Gabriel Prado has agreed to direct approximately $18.9 million in tourism rebate proceeds to Madison County to help accelerate repayment of the construction debt rather than keeping those funds.
In addition, the developer will make annual debt service payments from the revenues generated by operating the conference center. Should those revenues ever fall short, Madison County has the authority to place a first lien on the hotel property to ensure repayment of the debt, providing an added layer of protection.
Conference centers have long been recognized as catalysts for economic development because their impact extends well beyond the facility itself. Every conference brings visitors who support hotels, restaurants, retailers, entertainment venues, and other local businesses while generating new sales and tourism tax revenue that helps strengthen the local economy.
For Ridgeland, the project represents more than a new building, it represents a long-term investment in economic growth, business development, and the continued vitality of the community. As planning progresses, the City of Ridgeland looks forward to sharing additional updates with residents and celebrating the opportunities this transformational project will bring for generations to come.
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