Merced County Fair receives $5M in state funding for facility upgrades

The Merced County Fair has received more than $5 million in state funding for improvements to the fairgrounds and other facilities in an effort to enhance emergency preparedness capabilities.

The grant funding will be used to improve facilities at the 131-year-old fairgrounds, allowing it to serve both the community and state in times of emergency and year-round events including the annual fair.

The funding, which was awarded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) through the Fairgrounds Resilience Center Program, will be used to upgrade fairground facilities such as Yosemite Hall with a commercial kitchen, a new entrance and HVAC system, according to the Merced County Fair.

According to California Department of Food and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Michael Flores, the state of California began organizing one of the largest fair systems in the nation more than 140 years ago and currently has more than 70 fairs.

“California fairgrounds are the inspiration for resiliency centers in addition to serving as a venue for affordable annual community events,” said Flores. ”During emergencies they repurpose their installations to serve as emergency evacuation sites for local families, their pets and livestock.”

Flores said that while visiting every fair across the state he has consistently seen and heard just how important they are to the communities.

“It’s no secret that they’re in need of support from both the legislature and the department of food and Ag,” Flores said.

According to Flores, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has made a $100 million investment throughout the state’s fair network, with only a handful of the more than 70 fairs receiving money.

“We felt if was important to make this investment in this community for future emergency needs,” said Flores.

The Merced County Fairgrounds were most recently used in January, serving as shelter for both Planada and Merced residents affected by local flooding. In 2022, the fairgrounds were used as a staging site for Cal Fire and other emergency responders battling the devastating Oak Fire, which burned nearly 20,000 acres in Mariposa County.

According to Flores, the upgrades will enhance the grounds so they can be used for non-emergency needs as well. Flores said the network of fairgrounds across the state is in need of deferred maintenance.

“Most of these buildings were built in the ‘40s, ‘50s, and so they need to be modernized,” Flores said. “I can’t put people in a building that doesn’t have proper HVAC, so that’s what we’re going to do is we’re retrofitting them for that. In addition, part of resiliency is community grade kitchens. So those kitchens can facilitate the food necessary for a disaster but also they can be used as business incubation,” said Flores.

According to Flores, other fairs have had success in having mom-and-pop businesses use the facility to develop their business. Some were able to sell for millions of dollars.

“It’s a successful program that we want to be able to invest throughout our network,” said Flores.

According to Merced County Fair President Vicky Banaga, the county fairgrounds are used year-round. Events held there include memorials, weddings, quinceañeras, baptisms and Hmong festivals.

“We are a facility that we will actually adapt to anything you need; we can service it,” said Banaga. “We feel like we are a vital part of our community.”

The new kitchen, HVAC system and a new roof will be installed on the facility’s Pavilion building. According to the Merced County Fair, a nearly $1 million upgrade to the Pavilion building’s HVAC system was recently completed with funds made possible through a state grant.