LANSING — The Michigan Department of Management and Budget is
seeking proposals for the use of the state fairgrounds in Detroit. The state
will still own the fairgrounds and operate the two-week fair, but looks to lease
the land to someone for use the rest of the year.
The state received requests from interested parties and is
establishing a process for awarding a contract. The grounds themselves are "in
excess to fair needs," according to the state’s request for proposals.
The grounds are zoned for business development, and the state
will judge proposals based on four selection criteria. The state would like to
select a partner in July and finalize a grounds lease agreement in October,
according to the RFP.
The Mackinac Center has argued that the fairgrounds may be
better run as a nonprofit and off of state assistance. For more information on
that, please see this commentary www.mackinac.org/5853
from October 2003.
