By Diana Baldwin Staff Writer dbaldwin@oklahoman.comEDMOND — Edmond's new hotel and conference center is projected to provide a $5.7 million annual economic impact. The $37 million full-service hotel and conference center will likely bring in nearly $800,000 a year in sales tax revenue, according to the Edmond Economic Development Authority. Edmond leaders, developers and others gathered Thursday on 7.5 acres of land to celebrate the long-awaited start of construction of the 100,000-square-foot Hilton Garden Inn and 20,000-square-foot conference center on the northwest corner of Covell Road and Interstate 35. Council members invested $12 million in the public/private project with Covell Partners in Development and Covell-35 Development in an effort to improve Edmond's chances for economic development and increase its sales tax revenue. "The city council, working with the staff, has taken a very bold step with the public investment in this private development project to meet the identified needs for a conference center and take advantage of this super location opportunity," Mayor Charles Lamb said. Some say there has been talk about a conference center in Edmond for as long as 20 years.Read more on NewsOK.com