The Merced County Fair has been awarded $5 million from the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) as part of its Fairgrounds Resilience Center grant program, which focuses on improving both local fairgrounds and other community facilities to enhance the state’s emergency preparedness capabilities.
Merced County Fair officials are expected to utilize these funds to upgrade Yosemite Hall with a large commercial kitchen, HVAC system and new entrance, along with a new roof for the Pavilion building.
The Merced County Fair was one of a dozen California fairs to receive funds from the state program.
Merced County Fair’s Board of Directors and CEO Teresa Burrola were set to gather on Wednesday afternooon (after the Times weekly press deadline) with state and local officials, and emergency responders to celebrate the announcement at the fairgrounds in Merced. Also expected to be in attendance was California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) Deputy Secretary Michael Flores and Cal EOS officials, along with other local safety partners.
Additionally, the Merced County Fair just finished a nearly $1 million HVAC system upgrade on the Pavilion building, which was also made possible through a state grant.
The Merced County Fairgrounds is not only home to the Fair each June, it also serves as a resource for the community and the state in times of emergency. Most recently in January 2023, the Fairgrounds was activated to serve as a shelter for residents of Planada and Merced during the tragic flooding, and then in 2022, as a staging site for Cal Fire as they battled the devastating Oak Fire.
These new state funds are expected to significantly improve the facilities of the 131-year-old Merced County Fair and Fairgrounds, so it can continue to serve the community and state in times of emergency – as well as celebration, like during the annual Fair and year-round events.