Some time ago, the City of Benton, the Benton Chamber of Commerce and the Advertising and Promotion Commission realized our hometown is ideally located and positioned for a community events center.

As a progressive city with an active historic downtown, its own identity and many businesses, industries and major retail centers and corridors, it only made sense that this busy and thriving community will benefit from an events center.

In November 2011, a vote was brought to the citizens of Benton to implement a 1.5% tax on retail food sales and hotel stays in order to fund the construction and maintenance of such a project. Voters shared the vision, and on July 3, 2012, ground was broken for the Benton Event Center, a 28,000-square foot facility housing rentable space for weddings, conventions, trade shows, meetings, seminars, receptions and even concerts.

In March of 2013, it was agreed that the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce would oversee the management of the center on behalf of the Advertising and Promotion Commission, who actually owns the tax-funded facility. Research determined that hiring a management company would definitely cut into the center’s bottom line—plus, keeping management local and hiring people who are passionate about Benton and the possibilities of the new center will only add to its success.

An official Grand Opening celebration was held on October 1, 2013. The Benton Event Center is a warm and inviting, yet professional, venue for a wide range of community and regional events.