“Augusta is excited to offer meeting planners the ability to have all they need under one roof,” said Barry White, president and CEO of the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The exhibit space will be able to hold 188, 10-by-10-foot booths, accommodate 3,500 meeting attendees or 1,800 banquet guests, and have multiple layout possibilities, including the ability to be divided into two rooms. It is aiming to achieve LEED Certification.

The Augusta Chronicle reports that plans were delayed for the center for years as analysis revealed the $20 million in initial funding was not sufficient for construction, as well as controversies over future operations subsidies, an alleged vote-buying scheme involving future jobs at the parking facility and concerns over the need for such a facility in Augusta.

“The Tee center was key,” says Mayor Deke Copenhaver. “They said all along that their business model was predicated on having the Tee Center across the street.”

Managing partner for the 139-room Hyatt hotel, Cortland Dusseau, says his company picked Augusta because the city is proving to be a source of economic strength and investment for companies.