By TIM ALEXANDER

Illinois Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As the Illinois State Fair in Springfield prepares to open this week, several notable improvements have been completed to crumbling roads and decaying structures on the 124-year-old, 366-acre fairgrounds.

“Several projects recently completed on the fairgrounds include the resurfacing of three major roads – Main Street, Central Avenue and Illinois-Grandstand Avenue – the enclosure of a warm-up arena, roof and window replacement on Barn 13, roof replacement on Barn 41, engineering design work for the Coliseum, upgraded lighting in the Livestock Center, addition of low-speed, high-volume fans to the open swine barn arena, replacement and-or reconstruction of various vendor booths in Ethnic Village and flue replacement in the John R. Block Agriculture Administration Building,” said Morgan Booth, public information officer for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

“Several other projects are ongoing and include the south wall stabilization and roof repairs on the Junior Livestock Building, structural work in Barn 41 and other temporary roof repairs on various buildings throughout the grounds.”

The work was funded through $30 million appropriated by the Capital Development Board for the fairgrounds, she said in July. At the time, fair officials were concerned the work would not be finished in time for the fair’s August 9 opening.

Favorable weather, however, helped ensure the repairs were done in time for the enjoyment of patrons of the fair, which concludes August 19.

Meanwhile, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation (IFF), established two years ago due to a failure to fund fairground repairs from the state General Assembly, is languishing.

This is according to a report circulated by Gatehouse Media political columnist Doug Finke, and confirmed to Farm World by IFF Chair John Slayton. “To say we are in dire need of funding is indeed an understatement,” he said last week.

It was estimated in 2016 that approximately $185 million would need to be raised to pay for deferred maintenance at the Springfield and Du Quoin state fairgrounds. When Rauner organized the IFF – the establishment of which he said would guarantee funding for repairs could not be diverted by the legislature – a goal of raising $2 million-$3 million was announced.

The latest financial report filed by the foundation with the attorney general’s office shows income in 2017 was just over $32,000, Finke reported.

“The report is accurate, and we are in great need of corporate and individual donors and associations to step up and help fund necessary fairgrounds repairs,” said Slayton, suggesting that “donor fatigue” may be in play.

He did say several traditional top donors to agricultural and societal causes – including Deere & Co., ADM, Caterpillar, State Farm and CME Group – recently donated up to $1 million each to help refurbish the historic governor’s mansion.

The IFF may be contacted through its website at www.ilfairfpoundation.com where a secure donation portal has been set up for the 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.