Clayco Construction Company Detroit and developer Blair Bowman co-hosted a flagpole dedication ceremony June 25 at the construction site for a new $18-million exposition, convention and conference center in Novi. Bowman used the event to announce plans for a permanent veterans memorial at the Novi site.

Bowman, the managing partner of TBON LLC, dedicated the flagpole in memory of Bob Pohlman and Duane Bell, two deceased veterans who were active in the Veterans Alliance of Novi.

The flagpole is the first step in carrying out “our commitment to honoring veterans with a permanent memorial located on the grounds of the new Novi conference center,” Bowman said.

The memorial will be named the Pohlman-Bell Novi Veterans Memorial.

Dignitaries on hand for the ceremonies included state legislators Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi; Rep. Craig DeRoche, R-Novi; and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

Novi Mayor Lou Csordas was the event’s master of ceremonies. Color guards from the Novi American Legion and AMVETS posts presided as the flag was raised. U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-MI, provided the flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol on Flag Day.

Clayco Detroit is building the new exposition, convention and conference center. It’s scheduled for a summer 2005 opening.

The 320,000-sq.-ft. project will feature 26-ft.-high ceilings in 214,000 sq. ft. of exposition space, as well as a full-service banquet kitchen and 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting and conference rooms.

The first phase of construction will include parking for 2,550 vehicles. The project is privately funded by Bowman and financed through Standard Federal Bank.

The second phase of construction includes a hotel and an additional 500-plus parking spaces.