By law, the South Florida Fair is required to have an annual audit and to submit the audit to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (§616.101, Fla. Stat.) Copies of the Fair’s prior audits are available upon request.
According to a study released in 2018 by Markin Consulting, the South Florida Fairgrounds generated a total economic impact of $102.7 million in 2016. This is after the development of the Expo East Exhibit Hall, the enhancement of Yesteryear Village, the aggressive marketing of the Expo Center exhibit floor space, and the Agriplex complex.
The same study calculates the activities taking place at the South Florida Fairgrounds during the 2015/16 fiscal year contributed $592,000 to Palm Beach County Lodging Tax.
In addition, the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre alone is estimated to generate an economic impact in excess of $59 million. But not only does the Fair generate a significant economic impact, it makes a substantial annual cash distribution to the youth of this area from its own resources.
In the 2015/16 fiscal year, the South Florida Fair paid in excess of $285,000 in scholarship and 4-H premium awards, compensation to choruses and bands performing during the annual Fair, and contributions to Palm Beach County schools through its Partners-In-Education Advance Ticket program. Additionally, the South Florida Fair event alone generates over 500 jobs every year.
Over the past thirty (30) years, the Fair has made or has been involved in the making of over $35 million of capital improvements to the Fairgrounds, and continues to invest in capital improvements between half million to $1 million every year. These capital improvements have been with tremendous public support but very little public financial assistance.
The Fair Board of Trustees continues to support investing in a Master Plan to take us over the next decade. These are long-term projects, but once complete, could represent an additional $30 million investment in improving the County's facilities. It involves the construction of a 100,000 square-foot Multi-Purpose Facility, the relocation of the maintenance facility, the expansion of Yesteryear Village, and the acquisition of land for additional parking.