This fall, construction will begin on a $425 million project to update the 85-year-old Cleveland Convention Center and build a new medical mart next door.

The new Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center, owned by Cuyahoga County, will be developed and managed by Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., Chicago, which runs The Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The project is scheduled to be completed in October 2013.

Cleveland's Medical Mart will have about 120,000 square feet of permanent showrooms available to lease by major medical manufacturers and providers. It will be connected to the convention center, which will be completely remodeled. The renovated center will have about 300,000 square feet of exhibit space and approximately 160,000 square feet of meeting space.

Calendar

The ASAE and The Center for Association Leadership Annual Meeting will be held August 21?24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Go to www.asaeannualmeeting.org for more information.

The 21st Annual Conference of the National Task Force on CME Provider/Industry Collaboration, will be held October 13-15 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. Go to www.ama-assn.org for more information.