The project can be a “gateway to the nearby neighborhoods on both sides of the Great Miami River and southern suburbs. The site sits between two of the region’s largest employers, Miami Valley Hospital and the University of Dayton. The pace of development in this area since the late 1990s has been astounding,” the Port Authority wrote in the application.
The county fair, which called the 38-acre South Main Street property home for more than 100 years, has moved to a Dayton-Liberty Road park in Jefferson Twp.
The new owners of the former fairgrounds — the University of Dayton and Premier Health — have said the project is a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.
RELATED: Five things to know about the Fairgrounds, new and old
To date, no funding has been appropriated for infrastructure or other development efforts for the site, the Port Authority said in its application.
The state did set aside $2.5 million to the Port Authority, which was used as part of the $15 million purchase/relocation package provided to the Montgomery County Agricultural Society to move the fair to its new location.
RELATED: Road work planned for new county fair site
“Transitioning a site that has been an agricultural county fairground since the 19th century – into a vibrant economic driver for the region and state – will require notable site preparation and infrastructure modernization and development,” the Port Authority said in its application.
RELATED: Port Authority investment breathes new life into unique Dayton artists' space
You can view the fairgrounds project and other ideas seeking taxpayer funding here. You can comment on the projects at PDAC@daytonregion.com.
About the Author
