Chamber Hosts After Hours at Fairgrounds

Hudson, NY – Chamber members were be able to get a first look at the major renovations to the Fairhouse at the Columbia County Fairgrounds at the Chamber's Business After Hours on July 12.  Dick Alford, Board President of the Columbia County Agricultural Society spoke about the renovations and how they have opened up the Fairhouse for better use not only for fair exhibitors, but also for special events.  The Fairgrounds is home to many exciting events.  They just hosted Family Fest over fourth of July weekend and coming up in August is the annual Columbia County Fair.  The Fair will run August 30 through September 4 and will feature non-stop excitement and entertainment.

The historic Fairhouse dates back to 1884. It serves as the main exhibit hall and is the centerpiece of the grounds, but was in serious need of refurbishing. The project started three years ago with the support of a $2,500 grant from the Our Town Fund, administered by the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, to hire an architect firm to assess the condition of the building. They brought in structural engineers, who tore up floor boards to determine the soundness of the structure. This work was supported by a $3,000 grant from the Our Town Fund. Then, with a $10,000 grant from the Empire State Development Division of Marketing, Advertising and Tourism, the fair board hired an engineering firm late last summer to put together the drawings and specs needed and to help evaluate the bids received for the work. The Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation funded all the construction and electrical work with a $150,000 grant. It paid for major work on the sub-floor, a new floor, the removal of all the interior partitions and the bracing of the support columns as well as completely new wiring.

The result is a magnificent 8,000-square-foot facility that not only will work much better for exhibitors during fair time, but also can be used by local companies who want to run their own expo, by those looking for a special venue to host a large party or banquet, and by those groups who rely on the fairgrounds to provide an ideal space for their event.

For more information about the Columbia County Fairgrounds call (518) 392-2121 or visit their website at www.columbiafair.com.

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, with its 850 members, is the leading voice of business in Columbia County, providing advocacy, promotional and benefit solutions for its members. Those seeking more information concerning the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and membership can contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 or visit the website at www.columbiachamber-ny.com.