Return petitions to Goldenrod Printing, or mail to FairVoteNebraska.com, P.O. Box 21730, Lincoln NE 68542. If mailing, mail early enough to allow time to get to us by the 14th.

If you're in Lincoln and you need to get the petitions notarized, Goldenrod Printing has an employee who is a notary; you may call them to make arrangements to get them notarized and turn them in at the same time. Phone ahead first at 464-2128 to make sure the notary will be available.

FairVoteNebraska.com is a grassroots movement to keep the State Fair where it is and has been for 107 years.

The Legislature's action moving the Fair was ill-conceived and hastily planned. The goal was to free up the land for the University of Nebraska with little regard for the health and future of the State Fair and ramifications of closing all the other activities at State Fair Park.

A petition to repeal LB 1116, the legislative act that would move the State Fair to Grand Island, close State Fair Park, and turn the land over to the University of Nebraska, needs to be on the ballot in November to give Nebraska voters a say in the matter.

FairVoteNebraska.com talking points:

We submit that any decision on moving the 107 year old State Fair should be by a vote of the people.

Unlike community festivals, much of the appeal of State Fairs is their tradition. Moving the Fair to a new location will destroy that very important continuity and connection to our history.

Legislative consultants estimated the current State Fair location could be improved for $30 million dollars. The Legislature instead voted to spend $42 million dollars to move it to the middle of the state.

State Fair Park generates a $27 million dollar economic impact to the City of Lincoln every year. A figure comparable to the economic impact of the College World Series to Omaha. Closing State Fair Park would eliminate that.

State Fair Park is used all year round. The 2008 calendar lists 1001 days of revenue generating events on the grounds. This is in addition to events at the Devaney Center and the Icebox. The Lancaster Event Center does not have the open dates or facilities to accommodate most of those events meaning they will either go out of town or cease to exist.

State Fair Park has an annual payroll of $2.5 million dollars that will be eliminated from the Lincoln economy if the Fair moves and the Park is closed.

It is likely that most of the current State Fair staff would not relocate to Grand Island, so the State Fair will lose decades of experience and know-how.

Consultants hired by the Legislature said a successful State Fair should have 300,000 people living within 30 miles of the event. Grand Island does not meet that requirement meaning a much smaller attendance draw. This will make it difficult to raise corporate funds who base contributions on potential exposure. Drawing smaller crowds will also diminish revenues needed to support activities which will force a downsized event.

Since 2004 when voters approved a constitutional amendment that provided a percentage of Lottery funds for improvement of State Fair Park facilities, steady progress has been made. Moving the State Fair would mean losing much of that investment.

The State Fair and horseracing support each other at State Fair Park. Splitting those entities could easily spell the demise of both.

We are not opposed to the University's Innovation Park concept, but it has no current commitments, is estimated to cost $100 to $300 million dollars, and could take 20 years or more to develop. With the limited research dollars available and the extremely competitive environment for them, we feel this experiment does not merit gutting a historic site that fills an income generating niche. In this time when all affected parties are financially stressed, the University could build their facilities at a more cost effective location.

Or if you just want to leave a donation, check out our donations page:
http://www.FairVoteNebraska.com/donations.html.