County Fair Sustainability

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The El Paso County Fair was at a crossroads in 2006 and the county faced the potential end of a 100 year old tradition. Due to fiscal constraints, all county financial support for the fair was eliminated. This necessary, yet severe measure created an immediate need for a financially sustainable county fair model. In response, county officials developed the County Fair Sustainability Program, created to generate revenue to cover the fair’s expenses, ultimately saving it from elimination. Following an update to the fairground master plan and the creation of an operational plan, the focus on the fair’s financial sustainability coalesced around four revenue generating strategies. A plan was developed to raise county fair operating costs through sponsorship, expansion of the fair vendors, gate revenue for admission and facilitating year-round programming on the fairgrounds in partnership with nonprofits. From this financially sound model, the El Paso County Fair met its revenue goals in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The measureable success of this Sustainable Fair Program has been demonstrated in the elimination of the general fund subsidy and county-wide confidence in the fair’s continued existence.