Jefferson City accepts $15 million from state for conference center, parking garage project

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Council unanimously accepted $15 million from a state appropriations bill for the for the conference center project.

House Bill 19 gives the money to the city “to fund the planning, design, and construction of a conference center and parking garage.” The funds are required to be spent by June 10, 2027, council documents say.

The council in January approved the creation of a downtown conference center transportation development district in connection with the project and construction has been ongoing. The Madison Street parking garage was knocked down in January and a new one is going to be built in its place.

Other buildings in the area – including the old Jefferson City News Tribune building at 210 Monroe St. in 2024 —were knocked down in preparation for building the new conference center, hotel and more parking. 

Council documents say a stipulation of the $15 million includes parking spaces in the new garage to be provided to the state.

Reporting from February indicates the hotel is expected to open by June 1, 2028.