The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center requested a $1 million credit line last October, but a year later has not used a dollar of it.
At the time the organization requested the loan, their utility bills had increased dramatically and the facility needed maintenance work done. The credit line was meant to be a safety net in case the facility began to fall behind on the bills and needed further maintenance it couldn’t afford. They had also seen a drastic jump in employee wages while the total number of hours worked decreased.
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center officials say they never planned to actually use the money. A few months ago, those officials announced that their financial worries had mostly passed and they did not expect to use the credit line. The term for the credit line ended this October, and the DECC board announced it will not seek to extend it. The organization will return the money to the City’s general fund.
According to a Northern News Now report, the Duluth facility has seen a 19% increase in new revenue in 2024. The venue hosted over 600,000 guests over the last year. The success of the venue has also brought approximately $53 million of economic impact to the region.
In a statement, President of the Board of Directors for the DECC Peter Singer thanked residents for showing up to the facility and supporting their growth. He also thanked the City of Duluth for providing the credit line safety net that allowed the organization to bounce back as well as it has.
