YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Last edited 12:10 p.m., March 18
A project that is the brainchild of Springfield-based Killian Construction Co. CEO Bill Killian, Branson entertainer Tony Orlando and a Tennessee developer now has a key financing component in place following a host of apparent construction delays.
On Feb. 26, the City Council in Foley, Ala., approved an agreement to finance roughly $27 million construction of a sports tourism complex and events center to anchor a 500-acre entertainment district dubbed Blue Collar Country.
In exchange, the developers – who are operating through BC Foley LLC – will finance and construct two hotels as part of the first phase and start a Veterans Plaza that will complement the events center’s outdoor stage and hold 8,000 people, according to Al.com.
Killian Construction is serving as the general contractor on the development, and Killian Marketing and Business Development Director Ken Coleman said the agreement was an important gate for the $200 million retail and entertainment district. Coleman declined an interview this morning on behalf of Killian to further discuss progress at the complex, citing confidentiality agreements with development partners and businesses involved.
Killian told Springfield Business Journal in July that two hotels had signed letters of intent to join the complex, but he declined to name those entities.
According to Al.com, one of the hotels on board for Blue Collar Country is a Hilton Garden Inn, but Springfield-based Hilton Garden Inn developer Tim O'Reilly, CEO of O'Reilly Hospitality Management LLC, said he is only in talks with the Blue Collar Country developers.
The name of the complex itself derives from the comedy of blue-collar comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy, who are each expected to have themed restaurants at the venue 10 miles north of the Gulf Coast.
In all, the entertainment venue is estimated to lean on $70 million in public financing, according to Springfield Business Journal archives. Centered around a man-made lake, plans also call for a 100,000-square-foot sports and events center, a NASCAR-themed attraction, an RV park for 170 campers, a dozen youth sports fields, 15 carnival-style rides and retail space.
In July, Killian said construction was expected to begin in September, but the project has been marred by delays, according to WKRG-TV in Mobile, Ala. As of Feb. 7, cleared timber and a flag flying on the property were the only signs of progress.
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A safe room and classroom addition at Willard Central Elementary School will be used by the music, arts and athletic programs for a district that had 4,536 students last year, according to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education figures, but school officials say enrollment is projected to grow.