Attorney General Chris Koster endorses downtown Jefferson City conference center

For the first time, a statewide elected officials is endorsing a Jefferson City conference center proposal.

ABC 17’s Daniel Winn obtained a letter that Attorney General Chris Koster sent to Mayor Eric Struemph.

In the letter dated Oct. 2, Koster talked about the benefits of building a conference center in downtown.

He said there are several advantages to the location, including close proximity to the Truman Building and State Capitol as well as economic benefits for small downtown businesses.

Koster also touched on the need for another parking garage. He says there are too many state employees parking unpaved muddy lots.

Koster supports the “marshaling of resources” between the city and state to make a new parking garage happen.

One group, the Ehrhardt Group, is proposing a conference center in downtown Jefferson City.

He ended the letter by extending his support and by saying he would be happy to personally assist in anyway.

The City Council is scheduled to meet with the Farmer Group Thursday evening in a closed-door session. The group is proposing a hotel and conference center at Capital Mall, which it purchased in 2012.