Lorain County Commissioners learned details of the new exhibition center planned for the Lorain County Fairgrounds at their Aug. 16 meeting and approved an agreement to provide $10 million in funding for the project through the Lorain County Port Authority.
The County Port Authority will issue bonds to help finance the event center.
The project includes three buildings.
The Ross Exposition Center will feature 6,200 square feet of climate-controlled space that can be used year-round.
The project also includes the construction of the Marie M. Cromling Arena, which will be used for equestrian events.
The third aspect of the project involves replacing the two cattle sheds with a new barn, complete with washing stalls.
Toilets and showers will be integrated into the facilities. The parking spaces will also be significantly improved.
The “Fairs Forever” campaign, sponsored by the Lorain County Senior Fair Board, is a fundraiser to solicit donations for the project.
Off-season events scheduled at the Event Center include horse, cattle, sheep and goat shows, as well as weddings, corporate events, volleyball tournaments, tractor pulls, rodeos and other events.
So far, more than 10 people have expressed interest in renting the center, and one of the proposals calls for an audience of about 10,000 people, according to Bill Spreng, a volunteer and donor to the project.
“It’s not just a wedding event for 100 people,” Spreng told the commissioners, adding that he and the others involved in the project were very grateful for the commissioners’ support.
“It is a project for the entire district and we expect that everyone in the district and the region will benefit from it,” said Spreng.
To date, approximately $11.1 million has been raised by the Lorain County Agricultural Society, individuals and the commission’s board of directors.
Suppliers, companies, foundations and other individuals have already donated $4 million.
The Lorain County Agricultural Society and the commissioners each donated $1.5 million.
And the Ross Foundation donated $4 million.
The project is scheduled to be completed by August 1, 2025.
“We believe this will be a very good opportunity for the fair,” said Jim Miller, director of the Lorain County Port Authority. “It gives them an opportunity to generate revenue from this building year-round.”
In other news, commissioners unanimously voted to waive the $80 dog adoption fee at the Lorain County Dog Catcher’s Office through October 1.
The kennel is at full capacity with 29 dogs and officials are asking people to adopt the animals to make room for others.
The total cost to adopt a dog is currently $26, which also covers the cost of the dog’s registration tag.
The Commission’s Board of Directors also awarded a $1,425,000 contract to Williams Brother Builders Inc. of Elyria to begin the project to expand the existing dog kennel.
