Fund drive set for new center at fairgrounds

CELINA - A five-month fund-raising campaign will begin May 18 to raise $2 million for the 68,500-square-foot Progressive Agriculture Convention and Education Center to be built at the Mercer County Fairgrounds.

Mercer County Fair Board members voted Tuesday to proceed with the $4 million expo center.

The board has already received a $1.5 million state fair board grant and raised another $1 million in local donations, according to Matthew Hughes of Fair Funding LLC, a consultant on the project.

"Now all we need to do is come up with $2 million," Hughes said. "I truly believe the community is behind us on this project. And it will benefit so many different people, but, if we don't come up with the money, the grant money will go away."

The center would have classrooms and labs for Wright State University-Lake Campus students. It would also provide horsemanship and wellness programs and provide a year-round center for community events. It would be located at the site of the current horse arena, according to the plans.

Dr. Jay Albayyari, incoming Lake Campus dean, said the university is committed to supporting agriculture in the area.

"We are excited about our academic programs in agriculture," he said. "By offering associate and bachelor's programs led by highly qualified faculty and experienced staff, we want to make sure anyone interested in agriculture studies will get what they need right here in Mercer County."

University officials support the new facility and intend to lease classroom space at the PACE Center, he said.

Plans have been discussed by board members, community members and officials with the university for the past 18 months. Final plans for the building are not yet complete.

Hughes just completed a six-week assessment of community reaction to the project.

The 31 local community leaders and people he interviewed support the idea, Hughes said.

Hughes also said Wright State's participation "made it all possible."

"The grant had to be tied to an educational focus," Hughes said. "And with the university going to utilize the classrooms and labs, it's a perfect fit."

Albayyari said the Lake Campus will "continue our tireless efforts in raising funding for scholarships for students, dollars allocated to program development and other initiatives that will help to support the partnership we have with Mercer County to promote agricultural education."

Fair board president Jeff Selhorst said he he believes the center will be good "for the entire community."

"I don't see any reason not to at least try," Selhorst told board members.

"This is an opportunity many counties don't have," Hughes said. "There are 88 counties and 94 county fairs, so we feel very privileged to be able to do this."

Hughes' company was paid $13,000 for the assessment and will lead the fund-raising efforts. His company will be paid $13,000 a month for the five months of fund-raising. An anonymous donor has paid for three months of the fee, Selhorst said.

No ground-breaking date has been set.