Less than a year after the city hosted its first NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championship in March, the city of Shenandoah was selected by the NCAA to host the same event in 2015 and 2017.

"The years we've been involved, we've been chosen every other year," City Administrator Greg Smith said.

The city announced Dec. 11 it would host the events for both years. Shenandoah submitted bids in September to be the host site for football, women's lacrosse and swimming and diving championships from 2014-18 and was named a finalist for football and swimming and diving in late October. Smith said Salem, Va. was selected for all four years for the football championships after 21 consecutive years of hosting the event.

"The tradition had a lot to do with the game being held there," Smith said. "But I respect that and understand that."

The events will be hosted by the CISD Natatorium, which also hosted the 2013 event. The city estimates the local economy received about $1.5 million in economic benefit from the event, including retail, restaurants and hotel spending. About 2,000 people attended the championships from around the country, including athletes, coaches, NCAA staff and spectators.

"This is another way that a small city with big city amenities and services is attracting events on such a large scale," Smith said. "These championships bring huge name recognition in addition to the economic benefit and you can't put a dollar figure on the value of that."

Costs to cover the swimming and diving championships is estimated to be about $144,000 per championship. Funding for the events come from hotel occupancy tax and will not come from residential property tax dollars.