FAIR WANTS TOURISM TAX TO UPGRADE

The Southeast Missouri District Fair is the fourth largest outdoor event in Missouri.

"We want to make it bigger," said Steve Engles. "To do this we need to continue our ongoing project of upgrading the fair grounds."

Engles, a representative of the SEMO Fair Board, appeared before the Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board Wednesday requesting a portion of tourism tax funds for fair advertising.

The Fair Board was the fifth and final group to appear before the CVB Board this week.

"As of Wednesday, we have heard presentations on all proposals still under consideration for use of Convention and Tourism Funds," said Bob Hoppmann, president of the board. "We will now start the process of analyzing the information submitted to us.

"Because we have several factors to consider, we expect that a final decision will not be made for several months," said Hoppmann.

Presentations were as follows:

Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation Museums and Ulysses S. Grant Civil War Interpretive Center proposal.

John T. Crowe Center/hiking and biking trails/Shawnee park improvements proposal.

Convention and Visitors Center proposal.

Shawnee Park Sports Complex proposal.

SEMO District Fair advertising proposal.

Accompanying Engles at Wednesday's meeting were Patty Reisenbichler and John Baker.

"We're requesting $20,000 a year for advertising," said Engles. "Our annual advertising budget is $30,000 and we already have a commitment for $10,000 of that."

Engles said one of the purposes of the fair association is to continue to upgrade the fair grounds which provides for better public facilities in the Arena Park Area.

"The Fair Board has provided about $87,000 for lighting and other improvements at the park during the past five years,' said Engles. "Assistance by public funding created at least in part by visitors to Cape Girardeau during fair week would go a long way in making our goal of additional major capital improvements become a reality."

The fair provides a tremendous economic impact to the area during its seven-day run, noted Engles.

"We have more than 1,300 exhibitors and participants at the fair," he said. "About 90 percent of those exhibitors are from outside the metropolitan Cape Girardeau area."

Engles added that 80,000 to 85,000 people attend the fair each year.

"About 75 percent of those people come from outside the metropolitan area," said Engles. "They purchase food, they stay at motels, they shop."

The fair also results in national publicity for Cape Girardeau, added Engles.

"The fair has been on CBS morning news, ABC Good Morning America, and TNN-Live," said Engles.

He added the fair also provided opportunities for 4-H and FFA youth to enter livestock and speech competitions.

Engles told the board that 78 percent of its advertising dollars are placed with Cape Girardeau area media outlets, including newspaper, radio and TV.

Engles also noted that the fair is produced by 48 volunteers who contribute more than 20,000 hours toward the annual extravaganza. This year's event marks the 137th year for the state's oldest fair.