March 4, 2024 3:05 a.m.
Douglas County Commissioners Chris Boice, Tim Freeman and Tom Kress have announced that work has officially been completed on the roof replacement and new HVAC system project on Douglas Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
A County release said the project began in 2023 and took about nine months to complete. It included the removal and replacement of the roof, a new robust HVAC system, duct work and necessary structural reinforcements to hold the new HVAC system.
Commissioners said as with any facility, regular maintenance and repairs are a part of the cost of doing business and the fairgrounds is no exception. A new roof for Douglas Hall was one of several maintenance projects on the list a few years back, and while the commissioners and fairgrounds staff have made several improvements by investing capital back into the Fairgrounds Complex, the repairs to the roof on Douglas Hall garnered the attention of the Douglas County Fair Board as a top priority. As a result, Fair Board President Lisa Platt and local grant writer Shawn Watson decided to research grant funding opportunities to help expedite financing for the roof replacement.
In their quest they found Emily Cooke with Business Oregon and worked with her to collaborate on available funding in the state. They discovered a special grant being offered specifically for county fairgrounds. In 2022, a grant was written and submitted on behalf of the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Business Oregon awarded a $277,777 grant to the county that was earmarked for the replacement of the roof on Douglas Hall.
The release said the county was able to leverage the Business Oregon grant and expand the project to include the installation of a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Up until now, Douglas Hall only had a heating system, which also happened to be on the replacement list. It was recognized that by updating the system to a full HVAC, the county could increase the usefulness and accessibility of the building for fairgoers, service groups, vendors, and community members across the board. A new HVAC system would enhance Douglas Hall’s marketability for year-round events by offering the comfort of an efficient heating and cooling system for renters and event attendees. The addition of the HVAC system and the match for the grant added $653,529 to the Douglas Hall project.
Those interested in renting Douglas Hall for a big event can go to: https://douglasfairgrounds.com/buildings.html or call 440-4425.
Business Oregon administers more than 80 grants, loans, tax incentives and other programs each year to further the development of businesses, communities and economies in Oregon.