DALTON, Ga. — The Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, hurting in a sluggish economy, is scaling back plans for big improvements.
The trade center had hoped to make $750,000 in upgrades in 2011, but figures show the facility is finishing 2010 about $975,000 in the hole. The center is operated by Global Spectrum Inc. but funded jointly by Dalton and Whitfield County.
City and county officials not only shot down the improvements, they asked trade center officials to cut operating expenses markedly in the next year.
“It’s the council’s desire to control expenses, not just this year, but also in the coming years in light of projected declining revenue,” said Dalton City Administrator Ty Ross, who also sits on the trade center advisory board.
Trade center general manager Shashank Gairola said Global Spectrum planned to seek funding for a new kitchen, but after two meetings with city and county leaders, the only request was for a handful of repairs to the building.