City of Doral Government Center
8401 NW 53rd Terrace
Doral, FL 33166
305-59 DORAL (305-593-6725)
Press Release
Doral City Council urges Miami-Dade County to Relocate the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair and allow for the expansion of Florida International University (FIU)
Doral, FL – On March 2, 2016, the Doral City Council voted unanimously to support a Resolution presented by Vice Mayor Christi Fraga urging Miami-Dade County to move forward with the relocation of the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair and Exposition to the County-owned property located adjacent to the Homestead Air Force Base Park. The Resolution also calls for the County to subsequently allow for the expansion of Florida International University (FIU) onto the County-owned property that is currently occupied by the Fair.
Vice Mayor Fraga cited the long-standing relationship that Doral has with FIU, as well as the 3,800 students, 600 faculty/staff members, and 7,000 alumni which currently reside in the City. The expansion would allow for 10,000 additional eligible students to enroll, create 1,000 jobs, invest $900 Million in construction, have an initial economic impact of $1.8 Billion, and a yearly impact of $541 Million. Because of Doral’s proximity to FIU, the expansion would therefore have an immediate, positive, educational and economic impact on the Doral community.
FIU has committed to raising $50 Million to fund the Fair’s relocation to South Dade. In addition, the proposed Homestead Air Force Base Park site is larger, has more parking, and is close to major highways and tourist attractions, all of which will contribute to the Fair’s success in that area.
The Fair’s relocation would also benefit South Dade. FIU has proposed a joint venture with the Fair that includes a 27,000 sq. ft. EPICenter Agribusiness Incubator with a $13 Million biotechnology research and production facility and a $7 Million Agroecology Education Program, which would turn the Fair into a successful 365-day per year activity. The City Councils’ in the City of Homestead, the City of Florida City, and the Town of Cutler Bay have all welcomed the Fair’s proposed relocation by adopting resolutions urging the County to move forward. Vice Mayor Fraga stated:
“It is important to remember that we do not have to choose between expanding FIU and the Fair. We can have both! Most importantly, all of Miami-Dade County’s residents can benefit educationally and economically as a result. The Fair will be more than welcomed in South Dade. The expansion is highly necessary for the future of FIU. We need to urge the County to move forward.”
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