Finalizing Prices, Booking Details For Expo Center

Putnam County preparing to launch multiple new web pages allowing people to apply to use the new Expo Center and the surrounding fairgrounds facilities.

Visitors Bureau Tourism Director Shan Stout said applications will be reviewed by her team and applicants will receive a contract and a quote once approved. Stout said they will meet with applicants during the process to ensure all the details for that event are correct.

“I think it’s going to be very exciting for a vendor or an event director to look and say, ‘I need this set up like a trade show, I have forty booths, I want to do it this way,'” Stout said. “And then we can literally put that in 3D rendering and let them see the room and that way we’re not setting it up and (having) them go, ‘No, this wasn’t what I thought it was going to be.'”

Stout said people will be able to book specific portions of the fairgrounds or convention center for smaller events. Stout said they have not released their pricing options but they plan to match the pricing of other community venues like the Leslie Town Center to avoid undercutting or price gouging them.

“We want it to be affordable, but we also don’t want it to be so affordable that it would be less than another venue and then harm that venue,” Stout said. “So we’re trying to be very level on our playing field for pricing and I think you will see that in our application.”

Stout said she has worked with Glenn Jones, who manages the current fairgrounds, to get his expertise on how to run the application process.

“We’re trying to make it very accessible and easy for anyone to apply and then come in and choose what they want to do with their event,” Stout said.

Stout said she is the primary manager for the facilities but other members of the visitors bureau are supporting her in the effort.

“Over time we’re going to break this out in pieces,” Stout said. “But yes, I’m kind of the top of the funnel. (I) found this out slowly over time. I think more tasks were added to my role as it went on, but I will be. So if you need anything and you have a question about the Putnam County Event Center, the fairgrounds, the convention center, and the upcoming expo center I am your first point of contact.”

Stout said the application will be available on the visitor bureau’s website as well as a separate site for the Putnam County Convention Center.