Things are looking up – and being spruced up – at the Enumclaw Expo Center.
Key indicators show finances are improving, enthusiasm continues to build and money is being spent to improve the buildings and grounds. The key element in that equation is the money: specifically, outside funding.
It’s now the second year of an arrangement that has a nonprofit group operating the city-owned facility along Enumclaw’s eastern boundary. After struggling to make ends meet, the city handed operations to the Enumclaw Expo and Events Association.
Scott Gray, executive director at the Expo Center, went before the Enumclaw City Council recently to offer an update.
There are “exciting things” happening on the grounds, he said, offering a brief rundown of capital improvements and event plans.
Most of the work, Gray said, is earmarked for the fieldhouse, historically known as Pete’s Pool. Already completed, he said, is a project visitors will never see, but important nonetheless. Insulation was added to the building’s upper reaches, part of an overall plan to keep the building – which was built in 1940 – more comfortable throughout the year.
A new front porch is being added to the fieldhouse and the maple floor is being sanded and refinished. And there’s still hope for a feature than has long eluded the fieldhouse: air conditioning. Gray noted it’s tough to rent the building for weddings when temperatures might climb well over 100 degrees indoors.
The improvements will be paid with money from two sources, the city of Enumclaw and 4Culture of King County. The city share originated with the county and was given to Enumclaw when the property was transferred to city ownership.
With regard to events, Gray touched briefly on the most recent gathering, the annual Wine and Chocolate Festival. The good news, he said, is that profits were up about 40 percent from a year ago; the financial fix, Gray explained, was accomplished by whittling away at expenses.
He focused on the Expo Center operations biggest task, putting on the annual King County Fair. It’s a challenge that will draw most of the small staff’s time and energies between now and the July festivities.
Gray noted that a survey was done following the 2015 fair in an attempt to determine strengths and weaknesses. There was too much “down time” during the run of the fair, Gray said, before ticking off a list of new features to be added this time around.
The fair has lacked an “anchor event,” he said, adding that the missing piece has been added. The King County Fair has been added as a stop in the Northwest Truck Pulls competition, a feature that meshes well with the rural theme the fair has always enjoyed. In addition, Gray said, there will be more live entertainment, greater involvement by agricultural interests, additional activities like a climbing wall and paintball battles, and a special area featuring free activities for kids.
The King County Fair will take place July 14-17.
