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Ohio Fair Managers Association — Senate Bill 109, House Economic and Workforce Development Committee

Summary

Testimony from the Ohio Fair Managers Association (OFMA) addressed to Chairman Edwards, Vice Chair Powell, Ranking Member Upchurch and the members of the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee, in support of Senate Bill 109. It states that the OFMA works on behalf of Ohio's 95 county and independent fairs and asks the committee to support the provision of SB 109 that provides an additional infusion of support for county fairs. The OFMA estimates that fairs brought in over $14 million in non-fair related rentals in 2019, a source that dried up in 2020, and estimates conservatively that fairs generated over $111 million in economic impact from the county fairs alone.

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“Ohio Fair Managers Association — Senate Bill 109, House Economic and Workforce Development Committee.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2021-04-28-econ-workforce-dev-testimony-ofma-sb-109-house-testimony-a6d22a6f5b/, SHA-256 79cbecf892356f45dbc8089c7b1cd231aba4521c1dd245ef4865c022d495f9d8.

Full text

                                                                              Ohio Fair Managers Association
                                                                            P. O. Box 2625 Stow, Ohio 44224
                                                                             330-208-0372 ohiofairs@att.net




Chairman Edwards, Vice Chair Powell, Ranking Member Upchurch and all members of the House Economic
and Workforce Development Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide support for Senate Bill 109
on behalf of the Ohio Fair Managers Association (OFMA). You previously heard from our association on SB
109’s companion bill, House Bill 168.

The OFMA has been working diligently on behalf of Ohio’s 95 county and independent fairs to survive the
economic side effects of COVID-19. While not out of the woods yet, we are optimistic that this year will be
more prosperous than 2020.

The financial losses sustained in 2020 by county agricultural societies have been difficult to manage. There was
some help from the state in the availability of CARES funds in 2020 and we appreciate the legislators’ support
for that funding. We are asking that you also support the provision of SB 109 that provides an additional
infusion of support for our county fairs.

In addition to the losses felt because of the limitation or cancelation of an annual fair exhibition, fairs have also
loss rental income. Many groups rent our fairgrounds to host events like swap meets, weddings, antique shows,
horse shows, commodity shows and more. Our fairs rely on this income and it was all but lost last year. We
estimate that in 2019 our fairs brought in over $14 million in non-fair related rentals. This funding source dried
up in 2020.

We need continued support from the state to help ensure our county fairs are still here for generations to come.
We are facing obstacles like never before. Many of our local fairs are hanging on by a financial thread and
would very much appreciate your support.

It is important to note, that in addition to supporting our grounds and annual fair exhibition, we provide a
financial benefit to our communities on a whole. We have pulled together some financial impact data from our
members. We estimate conservatively that fairs generated over $111 million in economic impact from the
county fairs alone. This doesn’t take into account other events on the grounds that operate 12 months a year.

Our midways are filled with small businesses selling delicious food and providing other entertainment to our
fairgoers. We are a showcase for Junior Fair and provide a showcase for the youth to show and auction their
animals and other projects. We are a platform for charities, law enforcement, and other non-profits to reach
their communities and also raise funds for their mission. Our communities rely on us and that is why we are
here relying on you in the General Assembly.

We thank this committee for your time today and would appreciate your support for Senate Bill 109.

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