CLEVELAND -- Cleveland’s Medical Mart may get some competition.

NewsChannel5 learned that a company called Market Center Management will announce its plans Monday to move forward with the next stage in developing an international medical trade center in Nashville.

The Nashville Medical Trade Center could open as early as next year.

Cole Daugherty with the Dallas Market Center said his company believes that “there will be only one international medical trade center in the United States and that it will be located in Nashville.”

But Cleveland's leaders see that the influences from the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals already have Cleveland at the center of the medical world -- making a medical mart a natural fit.

"I'm not terribly worried about the boast and the brag of those from Nashville. If we were building something for the Grand Ole Opry they would have the edge on us. But Nashville is not known as an epicenter for health care as we are," said Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones.

Cleveland has been working with MMPI out of Chicago to break ground downtown at the Convention Center site. City leaders said Public Hall will be holding smaller gatherings and conferences within a year.

Daugherty said the following statement will be released Monday:

"Market Center Management Company, the management company of leading wholesale trade centers and trade events around the world, today announced its intent to move forward with the next stage of plans for developing an international medical trade center in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Nashville Medical Trade Center could open its doors as early as 2010 as the only medical trade center in the U.S. to service the needs of the global medical community through three components: permanent manufacturer showrooms for healthcare product manufacturers, distributors, and information technology companies; temporary trade show space; and conference facilities to accommodate a full schedule of medical trade events each year. Upon completion, the facility would reach 1.5 million square feet.

"'An international medical trade center is a natural fit for Nashville, already the national hub for medical business and education,' said Bill Winsor, president and CEO of Market Center Management Company. 'This project could add additional jobs, welcome new businesses, and attract visitors from around the world.'

"Ongoing discussions between Market Center Management Company and Nashville business leadership and city leaders have taken place both in Dallas and in Nashville over the course of several months.

"Site selection by Market Center Management Company for the multi-building and multi-stage private development is already under way in downtown Nashville.

"'The medical trade center concept has been discussed in several cities over the years but is best suited to Nashville given the expansive health care institutions and the collaborative spirit between industry, research, and the city,' said Harry R. Jacobson, M.D., Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Vanderbilt University. 'The infrastructure and organizations already in place in this region will successfully support this project.'

"The benefits of a medical trade center include the business efficiencies of an open-daily marketplace; streamlined exhibition and sales channels; lower exhibition and travel costs; dynamic marketplace synergies; controlled product evaluation; convenient location; custom trade show and meeting space; specially tailored trade and business services; and dedicated industry staff.

"Ralph Schulz, president of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce which founded the Nashville Health Care Council in 1995 said the following: 'This is an important project in furthering Nashville's reputation as the nation's health care industry capital.'

"'In the new global era of medical products and services, a project such as this creates additional economic and leadership opportunities for Nashville and its dominant health care industry,’ said Chuck A. Elcan, founder and president of China Healthcare Corp. ‘An international medical trade center represents a transformational project for the entire industry.'"