If there is one project with the potential to transform downtown Meridian, it is the pending construction of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center.

    A major step to make the 58,461-square-foot museum a reality came to fruition Tuesday, when MAEC Executive Director Marty Gamblin announced an Oct. 3 groundbreaking for the project.

    A tentative completion date has been set for November 2017.

     The project has lagged since 2001, when the Mississippi State Legislature enacted Senate Bill 2666, establishing the center. Since then, the biggest hurdle has been the $55 million price tag to build the center, which will be dedicated to honoring the state’s rich legacy as the home to some of the world’s most renowned actors, authors, musicians and artists.

    The Mississippi Legislature has committed $5 million a year toward the project over the next five years for a total of $25 million. Donations will fund the remainder of the cost. More than half of the donations have been raised.

    In 2013, the Phil Hardin Foundation pledged $3 million toward the project. Last year, The Riley Foundation followed suit with a pledge of $4 million. The city of Meridian and Lauderdale County have each promised $3 million toward the project. There have been other significant donations as well.

    Officials have touted the center, once built, as a world-class facility that will tell the story of Mississippi’s rich heritage in the arts and entertainment with state-of-the-art technology and interactive exhibits.

    There is a lot to tell.

    The museum will honor the lives and works of Mississippi authors William Faulkner and Eudora Welty, actors Morgan Freeman and Sela Ward, and musicians Elvis Presley and Meridian native Jimmie Rodgers.

    The museum will pay tribute to musicians from localities throughout the state, such as LeAnn Rimes (Pearl); Charley Pride (Sledge); Britney Spears (McComb); Faith HIll (Star); Ike Turner (Clarksdale); B.B. King (Indanola); Tammy Wynette (Tremont); Moe Bandy (Meridian); and Jimmy Buffet (Pascagoula).

    Actors from the Magnolia State to be featured at the museum include the likes of James Earl Jones (Arkabutla); Ray Walston (Laurel); Channing Tatum (Pascagoula): Keith Thibodeaux (Jackson); and Stella Stevens (Hot Coffee), to name a few.

    Authors include Tennessee Williams (Columbus); Alice Walker (Jackson); Thomas Harris (Rich); and Haze Brannon Smith (Durant).

    Mississippi is home to an abundance of visual artists, dancers and others harder to categorize, such as comedian Jerry Clower (Liberty), “Die Hard” movie producer Lawrence Gordon (Belzoni), and Oprah Winfrey (Kosciusko).

    Those are just a fraction of the talented people who hail from the Magnolia State who will be featured at the arts and entertainment center. Studies have shown that people will travel to visit places that offer historical and cultural attractions.

    In fact, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, visiting historic sites or museums ranks third only behind shopping and outdoor pursuits for travelers in this country.

    What impact the entertainment center will have is as yet unknown. We do know other cities have seen a marked increase in tourism after opening similar museums.

    According to a 2010 study — “Arts & Economic Prosperity IV” — America’s arts industry generated more than $135 billion in economic activity.

    Tourists stay at local hotels, eat at restaurants and visit area attractions. Tourism dollars not only support area businesses, but also increase local tax revenues that could be used to improve roads and hire additional law enforcement officers.

    We have seen a renewed interest in downtown development, which will likely increase once the entertainment center is a reality.

    That’s good for the greater Meridian area, and for the state.