A few years ago, Johnna Boxley, general manager of the Spokane Convention Center, began working on a future regional convention for P.E.O. International, a women’s education philanthropy group.

When Boxley explained that the P.E.O. convention would be held just a few days after the completion of a major remodel, group members hesitated. But she said, “We are confident it will be done.” They took a leap of faith and booked the convention.

Boxley was delighted to tell the group that, as promised, the $9.7 remodel is done. – nearly a month ahead of schedule. The Convention Center – and Spokane – is ready to host the regional P.E.O. group when its 800 attendees arrive June 1.

In this space, we often point out when public projects run behind schedule, gobble up taxpayer money or become mired in controversy and politics. We explain how things go wrong, with the hope others will learn from these civic mistakes.

The Convention Center expansion, now called the Group Health Exhibit Hall, and the recent remodel of the main Convention Center provide an example of what happens when public projects go right.

The expansion and remodel garnered voter approval in May 2002 – on its first ballot outing. That’s unusual for public projects in Spokane, especially when the city’s experiencing economic doldrums, as it was in 2002. But voters believed that Spokane’s economic future relied on marketing the city’s natural gifts – gracious hospitality, spectacular scenery and the competence to handle large crowds without breaking a sweat.

Voters were promised that the money used for the expansion and remodel would elevate Spokane’s status in convention circles. It has. Spokane jumped to mid-size convention status, meaning it has more than 100,000 square feet of convention space. The recent remodel added six meeting rooms, wired for the latest technology, and it also updated the center’s look and feel.

An original staircase and boxy meeting rooms were torn down to create a large lobby with plenty of room for coffee-drinking and staring out picture windows to the nearby Spokane River and Riverfront Park. The Convention Center is expected to make an estimated $130 million impact on the regional economy in the next six years. The majority of the conventions on the books now wouldn’t have happened in its previous, limited space.

The continuing challenge is to make certain the Convention Center stays busy year-round, delivering on the promise to voters that their money will generate more money for the Spokane region.

Citizens built it. The visitors are coming. This is a community success, shared by all.