By a unanimous vote, Polk County Supervisors have voted to spend approximately $42 million to renovate and expand Veterans Memorial Auditorium—which is part of the Iowa Events Center—in Downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The expansion, which will include the addition of a grand ballroom and several meeting rooms, will allow Des Moines to compete with other cities in the region for meetings and conventions. According to the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, the expansion is estimated to bring 15-16 additional regional/national events within the first 3-5 years of project completion and result in convention related visitor spending of $38.8 million. “Convention-goers like their meeting spaces to be connected,” says Greg Edwards, President and CEO, Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The expansion of Veterans Memorial Auditorium is critical in getting larger conventions to Des Moines. This is a great day in Des Moines’ history.” (Above, a rendering—supplied by RDG Planning & Design—of the Iowa Events Center expansion, which is expected to be completed within two years).