Davis awards contract for center expansion

FARMINGTON — After contracts are signed, the expansion to the Davis Conference Center should be completed in 285 days, according to Ascent Construction, the firm that won a contract Tuesday to build the 40,000-square-foot expansion.

The Davis County Board of Commissioners awarded the $7.6 million contract to Ascent, which was the low bidder of two companies that vied for the project.

Barry Burton, the county's assistant director of community and economic development, said he checked Ascent's references, which were glowing.

The county still is required to apply for a building permit from Layton, where the conference center stands. But a lack of building permit won't stop the commissioners from holding a groundbreaking ceremony today at 2 p.m.

"This is great that we're at the point we can move ahead," said Commissioner Alan Hansen.

The county is funding the expansion through a AAA-rated, $9.96 million sales-tax revenue bond, which was issued last year and a $500,000 grant from the Utah Division of Housing and Community Development.

The existing conference center has enjoyed such popularity since it was completed in 2004 that commissioners last year decided to build an expansion, which is expected to bring about $16 million to Davis County's economy.