A new beginning for the Chemung County Fairgrounds began in April 2012 when the County Legislature voted to authorize a lease agreement with the Chemung County Agricultural Society. The agreement with the Agricultural Society was for the operation and management of the Robert S. Turner Chemung County Fairgrounds for a term beginning January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014. The annual rent paid would be $25,000 increased by the rate of inflation for the years 2013 and 2014.
This agreement was just the start according to Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange. Having the Society run the fairgrounds was a great opportunity to have the facility used more often and provide more acitities for county residents to take advantage of at the fairgrounds, Strange says. Not only does the Society run the annual Chemung County Fair, since taking over the operations a year ago, more activities have taken place and many more are in the works. Along with more activities, the County Legislature recently approved two resolutions that will enhance the future use of the grounds and bring people and revenue to the area.
The first is a $1.1 million restoration project for the grandstand that will include the repairing of the concrete and steel under the seats in the grandstand. This will solidify the use of the grandstand for decades into the future and will allow new entertainment opportunities for the Society to pursue and bring to the fairgrounds.
While the grandstand project will bring the Society the ability to market the site for shows and concerts, a whole new avenue of possibilites is openning up for the area where the old Secretary’s building used to stand.
At it’s meeting on July 8th, the County Legislature authorized a lease agreement with the Society for land to construct a building to house a year-round regional farmers’ market. The Society is seeking a total of $800.000 in state funding assistance under the Consolidated Funding Program to construct a 16,486 square foot, one-story timber frame building.
The proposed building will house an all-season regional farmers’ market, a banquet hall, a USDA-certified kitchen, restrooms, meeting rooms and storage areas. No local county taxpayer money will be spent on the project. The county will provide approximately $150,000 of in-kind services for the project through the County Highway and the Buildings and Grounds Departments. The Society is also seeking $150,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commision. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1.1 million.
If all funding sources come to fruition, construction is expected to be completed by the early fall of 2014. “I am excited to see the fairgrounds used as a year-round facility,” Strange said. “County taxpayers deserve a return on their investment and I believe the ability to take advantage of various activities, entertainment options, and services like a farmers’ market are appropriate and advantageous opportunities for our residents,” Strange concluded.