An old JW friend just e-mailed this to me...
http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/business-1/1136560817146830.xml?sanews?BUG&coll=9
Group to set TheDow bustling
Friday, January 06, 2006 PAUL WYCHE THE SAGINAW NEWS A tourism deal to bring thousands of religious sojourners -- and their dollars -- to Saginaw this summer is a notable economic boost, county officials say. The Convention & Visitors Bureau and administrators at TheDow Event Center have inked a contract with Jehovah's Witnesses to host their three-day "Deliverance at Hand" district convention at the arena. Nearly 15,000 people will attend the three consecutive weekend gatherings: Friday through Sunday, July 28-30; Aug. 4-6; and Aug. 11-13.
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Money spent at hotels, restaurants, service stations and the like should generate well over $1 million for the economy, said Zane Collings, general manager at TheDow.
"I've worked with (Jehovah's Witnesses) before in New Haven, Conn., and Reading, Pa., and it's really great for the community," he said.
"They bring an army of people with them and handle pretty much everything themselves.
"This works out well because the summer is usually a slow time for us, and for them, they get a reasonable price for a nonprofit (organization)."
Norman Gardner, contract representative for Jehovah's Witnesses, said planners at the group's New York headquarters have kept an eye on Saginaw since their deal fell through in 2001.
At that time, county leaders were in the midst of a tax campaign to save TheDow, formerly the Saginaw Civic Center. Convention & Visitors Bureau leaders couldn't guarantee the center's availability, so several events canceled, including the Witnesses' booking.
"We were ready to come back then, but they had their millage to attend to," Gardner said. "We've toured TheDow and will be doing so over the next several weeks."
Jehovah's Witnesses hosted a series of summer conventions in Toledo last year, and before that spent nearly 30 years meeting at the Pontiac Silverdome.
Besides TheDow's parking ramp, Collings said auto dealer and Saginaw Spirit hockey team owner Dick Garber is donating parking space behind his RightWay used car lot; the city of Saginaw will allow vehicles to assemble at a lot just over the Johnson Street bridge; and the Saginaw School District will permit conventioneers to park at the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, 200 Congress.
Collings said the Witnesses may sign on for additional summer assemblies in 2007 and 2008.
"From my experience with Jehovah's Witnesses in other cities, they bring in millions," Collins said. "We don't know what the exact economic impact will be yet, but there will definitely be one." v
Paul Wyche covers business for The Saginaw News. You may reach him at 776-9674.