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Grand Island leaders are hoping to fill a 42-passenger bus headed for Lincoln Thursday morning to lobby for the relocation of the State Fair to Grand Island's Fonner Park.
Former Grand Island Mayor Ken Gnadt said the bus will leave the Skagway South parking lot at 7 a.m. Thursday en route to the state Capitol.
Thursday is the day that the speaker of the Legislature, Sen. Mike Flood, has scheduled debate on LB1116 the Agriculture Committee's priority bill. It seeks to move the State Fair to Grand Island by 2010.
The University of Nebraska wants to create a research and innovation park at the current State Fair grounds in Lincoln.
Gov. Dave Heineman was in Grand Island Tuesday and praised the city's leaders for putting together what he called a win/win proposal for the state.
"We have the opportunity of a lifetime to do two very important things for our state. First is the State Fair to be rejuvenated and modernized. Grand Island can get that done," Heineman said. "That was very, very critical because you can't achieve the second goal, which is an opportunity for a research and innovation park at State Fair park, without the State Fair moving and now it's going to move to a great location."
The university can use the research and innovation park to create higher paying jobs for Nebraskans, the governor said.
Although he can't predict how the Legislature may vote, Heineman said he believes Ag Committee Chairman Sen. Phil Erdman has crafted a strong proposal that will be well received by the full body.
"My sense is everybody is ready to follow his lead," Heineman said.
The State Fair issue was "a business transaction" that Grand Island presented a well-thought-out solution to, he said.
"I'm optimistic. I'm looking forward to the day it arrives on my desk so I can sign it into law," the governor said.
"Grand Island has a proven track record with Husker Harvest Days. I have no doubt they can demonstrate to the state of Nebraska they can provide an even better fair than we have at its current location," he added.
Heineman said there is also an intangible benefit to moving the State Fair to Grand Island and Central Nebraska.
"I think it sends a powerful message that we can do good things in Central and Western Nebraska just as well, or just as easily as in Omaha or Lincoln," Heineman said." I could sense it for some time now that people were excited about a major decision in this state and it was going to go somewhere other than Omaha or Lincoln for very meritorious reasons because of the track record here."
Thursday's charter bus is being paid for by Grand Island businessman Jerry Hehnke. Gnadt said the hope is to have numerous 4-H'ers and FFA and vocational agriculture students on the bus. No registration is needed.
"Just show up," Gnadt said.
"I look forward to the day I'm doing the ribbon cutting at the State Fair here at Fonner Park in Grand Island," Heineman said.
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