TILLAMOOK – When the 2007 Tillamook County Fair closed last August, organizers celebrated the most successful fair in recent history, one that set daily attendance records and continued a 17-year pattern of growth.

Future successes, though, were shrouded in doubt when subsequently the fair’s 80-year-old grandstands were virtually condemned.

This week the fair opens again with new, safe grandstands ready to be dedicated Saturday.

Governor Ted Kulongoski and the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department helped to seed the community’s grass-roots campaign to replace the grandstands. The Governor directed the agency to provide a $100,000 grant from the Special Public Works fund to help the $2.3 million project get underway.

Fair management was also able to put together an interest-free financing package with the help of TLC Federal Credit Union.

They also solicited many in-kind donations from local suppliers. Fair Manager Jerry Underwood cited examples ranging from donations of all electrical labor and services, valued at $90,000, to free installation of the grandstands’ landscaping.

“We really appreciate what the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department did for us,” he said. “And we are very fortunate to have all of the support from the community – as they always do.”

The grandstands not only are a venue for many popular fair activities, but also host the Tillamook County Rodeo, horse racing and other events year-round that have a significant economic impact on the community.

“Because of the new grandstand, the Fair Board has the Royal Lipizzaner Stallions coming to Tillamook the week after the fair and a circus is coming in September,” Underwood said. “The new grandstand will definitely get used.”