Mesa County Fairgrounds to become nonprofit

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) – The Mesa County Fairgrounds is meeting with county commissioners on Nov. 26 to discuss the possibility of becoming its own nonprofit organization.

“We are funded by Mesa County, so we have an annual budget that we have to work within that is used to operate the entire fairgrounds,” said Kyle Carstens, director and director of community events for the exhibition center. “The long-term goal of establishing this foundation is to become self-sufficient from the county.”

If approved by the county, the facility will be able to raise money and donations to promote its own events and expand its services.

“We have just the right elements in place now to move things forward. You know the commissioners are very supportive of us,” Carstens said. “The county administration is very supportive of us and I felt like it was the right time. »

The change would also allow the fairgrounds to create its own board of directors, for anyone who wants to be part of its operations.

“It’s evolved over the last 35 to 40 years from a race track to what you see here now,” Carstens said. “We would love to continue our master plan and continue to grow this facility.” »