The legislature of this state finds that there exists in this state a continuing need for programs to promote tourism and convention business in order to assist in the prevention of unemployment and the alleviation of the conditions of unemployment, to preserve existing jobs, and to create new jobs to meet the employment demands of population growth. To achieve these purposes, it is necessary to assist and encourage local units of government to acquire, construct, improve, enlarge, renew, replace, repair, furnish, and equip convention facilities and the real property on which they are located and to refinance these activities.