Built a decade ago, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center just received a huge boost, with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signing off on a massive 1.3 million square foot expansion of the facility.

“The expansion and enhancement of the BCEC is an investment in our future that will allow Boston and Massachusetts to continue to grow its share of the meetings and conventions industry; an industry that contributes significantly to our economy by generating billions of dollars in economic impact, while creating and sustaining thousands of jobs,” said James E. Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, which oversees the center.

He added, “I want to thank Gov. Patrick for his confidence in our plan to make Massachusetts more competitive in the meetings and convention industry. 

The expansion includes additions to the exhibit and meeting space and a second, larger ballroom that will allow the MCCA to attract larger events and host multiple, simultaneous events, which will significantly increase economic impact in the region, as well as create new jobs.

The expansion also includes a plan to create new public space that will contribute to the growing vitality of the South Boston Waterfront.

Funding for the $1 billion expansion will be supported by the existing Convention Center Fund, which was created in 1997 to pay for the construction and operations of the BCEC.

The Convention Center Fund revenues consist of existing tourism-based fees and taxes, none of which will need to be increased to fund the expansion project.