The Oxford Conference Center earlier this week reported revenue for 2015 of $837,731. This almost doubled the amount of revenue that was generated during 2013 when there was talk of closing or changing management at the center during the budget process.

At a public hearing in December 2013, several community leaders voiced their opposition about closing the center or having outside management run the operation.

After this meeting, the board voted to continue operating the center and tasked current Conference Center Manager, Hollis Green, with reducing expenses and raising revenue. This is exactly what Green has done with the excellent staff that is helping him run the conference center.

Green has estimated revenue for this fiscal year to approach $1.1 million, which would be the highest amount the conference center has ever generated.

The other pertinent fact is that the conference center in 2015 hosted 450 events with almost 40,000 people attending these events. This is a lot of people coming into our community and staying in our hotels and supporting our restaurants and retail merchants.

The EAGLE congratulates Green and his staff for the outstanding year they had in 2015. It also shows what leaders in our area can do when they stand up for something that is a coup for our community.