The Mayor’s Budget Review Committee voted March 11 to advance legislation to the Jacksonville City Council for $3 million in city funding to offset increased construction costs involved in relocating the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair.
The fair is moving to a 82.37-acre site at 13511 Normandy Blvd. next to the Jacksonville Equestrian Center in West Jacksonville.
The vote authorizes the city’s Office of Economic Development to introduce legislation to amend a 2023 redevelopment agreement and loan documents between the city and the Duval County Fair Association.
The OED’s request states that the city has agreed to provide a $1.5 million development loan toward the construction of new offices, amphitheater, exhibition hall, fairgrounds, parking and other improvements, and a $1.5 million completion grant.
In September 2021, City Council provided $15 million to relocate the fairgrounds as part of Mayor Lenny Curry’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan.
In April 2022, Iguana Investments entered into an agreement to purchase the current fairgrounds property at 510 Fairgrounds Place. The 14.1-acre site, north of 121 Financial Ballpark and northwest of EverBank Stadium, has been the home of the fair since 1990.
The new fairground is expected to be completed in June 2025. It is expected that the fair will move that fall.
The additional funds are needed because the $15 million construction budget had to be revised to reflect cost increases of more than $5 million, said Ed Randolph, OED executive director.
The new agreement states that $17.5 million be spent on the project to qualify for the $1.5 million completion grant. Failure to reach that number will result in the difference being deducted from the $1.5 million.
Staff writer Ric Anderson contributed to this story.