Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center in need of higher funding
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The Beckley- Raleigh County Convention and Conference Center, also known as “the Armory,” has higher funding needs, Raleigh County Commission President David Tolliver said on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
The facility hosts large events from high school graduations to business and charity galas, including United Way of Southern West Virginia’s “Dancing with the Stars” and YMCA of Southern West Virginia’s “Spirit of Beckley Award.”
Tolliver said the state of West Virginia deeded the facility to the Raleigh County Commission, the Raleigh County Board of Education and the City of Beckley around 20 years ago.
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Since then, each has paid $50,000 annually to operate the building.
Tolliver said Tuesday that the Convention Center board now needs $75,000 dollars a year from each agency to cover repairs and upgrades, along with operating costs.
“We’ve got to keep the Convention Center going. It’s the only place in Raleigh County that you can have big things like Spirit of Beckley award and stuff like that,” said Tolliver. “So, all three of us, it’s our responsibility to keep it running and keep everything going.”
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Raleigh County Commission voted on Tuesday to approve the annual $75,000 allotment from county coffers.
Tolliver said Beckley Common Council and Raleigh County Board of Education will also vote whether to approve the request from their own budgets.
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