OTTAWA, OHIO (WLIO) - The Putnam County fair is less than two weeks away, and county officials are ready to showcase the work that has been done to improve people’s fair experience. The final work is wrapping up at the event center. The building cost over $4.5 million, with the majority of the cost covered by the federal American Rescue Plan dollars that were issued to communities to help stimulate the economy after the pandemic.
Besides fair events, the building will be the largest rental space in the county and could also serve as quarantine space or as emergency offices during disasters. The Putnam County Commissioners say the project turned out better than they expected, and it will be ready for the fair and beyond.
“We already got it rented out for numerous weddings. We would like to get local businesses involved, maybe renting it for large meetings they may have, or training sessions, or things like that. We have put a lot of money into the fairgrounds, but it is for the whole county; the whole county gets use out of it. So, we thought that was a good place to put the American Rescue Plan money for our kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids,” says Commissioner John Schlumbohm.
Besides the event center, the commissioners also put money into revitalizing the grandstands inside and out. The makeover will allow the historic structure to be around for decades to come.
