The Bloomington City Council is set to vote Wednesday night on a tax to fund an expansion of the Monroe County Convention Center.
Mayor John Hamilton says not investing in the convention center could harm downtown commerce.
"If we don't do it downtown I very much worry someone is going to do it on the outskirts of town on I-69 and the interchange and it will pull that vitality and economic center from our downtown," Hamilton says.
The entire project is expected to cost around $72 million with the developer footing the bill for a $37 million dollar hotel space.
The remaining $35 million would be used to add more than 70,000 square feet of convention center space. That expansion would be paid for by a 1 percent food and beverage tax on prepared foods.
Hamilton says it could bring in $17 million a year to the local economy.