Vicksburg Convention Center reports fiscal year 2020-21 finished ahead of budget

Published 1:36 pm Thursday, October 28, 2021

Although it was a slow start due to the pandemic, the Vicksburg Convention Center’s year-end report was positive.

“Even with fewer events than fiscal year 2019-2020, we were able to finish the year ahead of budget,” VCC executive director Erin Powell Southard said, during the VCC Advisory Board meeting Wednesday.

Southard said this was due in part to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) money and because expenses came in below budget.

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“We attribute the lower expenses not only to less event-related expenses but also to lower utility bills,” Southard said. “With the new LED lighting and new HVAC system, we are starting to see the difference in our monthly utility bills and attribute this to our eco-friendly systems.”

In the annual report, Southard reported the economic impact during the 2020-2021 fiscal year totaled $3,100,792.

Direct spending was $1,823,995.

While the economic impact comparison is down from 2018-2019’s $8.01 million, Southard said, this total was better than last year’s.

“We’re getting there,” she said.

The total sales grossed for food and beverage, Southard said, were $91,371.

Palmertree Catering Service has been the sole caterer at the VCC since 2006, and this year Betty Palmertree retired.

Seazand Dream has been named the new caterer and was awarded a three-year contract with the VCC. Seazand Dream is owned by two of Palmertree’s employees, Dana Kenney and Angie Presley.

In the 2020-2021 fiscal year, there were 85 events with 20,680 in attendance.

These events included the MS USA Women’s State Gymnastics meet, 19th Annual Breakfast with Santa, the ASU Women of Courage Banquet, Warren Central and Vicksburg High School graduations, the Miss Mississippi Competition and the 8th Annual Ritz on the River.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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