New Conference Center Opens in El Dorado

The new El Dorado Conference Center is officially open. The formal dedication and ribbon cutting took place last week and guest speakers included El Dorado Mayor Frank Hash, Murphy Oil President David Wood, South Arkansas Community College President Dr. Barbara Jones and Arkansas District 6 Rep. Matthew Shepherd. I attended the opening and was also present at the groundbreaking of the center in October of 2009, where Governor Mike Beebe and then El Dorado Mayor Mike Dumas were among those present.

The $17 million facility seats up to 1000 (banquet seating), theater seating for up to 2,500 and is home to
the 12,000 square-foot Murphy Convention Hall. “This project will connect the South Arkansas Community College and our historic downtown, joining two of our best assets in ways yet unimagined,” said El Dorado Mayor Mike Dumas during his 2009 speech.  “The groundbreaking marks a historic day as El Dorado initiates one of the largest municipal
projects in the history of our city.”  During the dedication ceremony (of which former El Dorado Mayor Mike Dumas was present) Murphy Oil President David Wood cut the ribbon to welcome the center to the city. For more details on the center visit www.southark.edu/.