BUNNELL, Fla. — Excitement was in the air Wednesday, November 5, as Flagler County Commissioners officially broke ground on the new Fairgrounds Expo Center, marking a major milestone for both community growth and public safety.
Organizations that regularly use Cattleman’s Hall are eagerly anticipating the expanded opportunities the new facility will bring.
“This is such an exciting event to watch this building come. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and we definitely need this. Not only for the shelter, for disaster preparedness, but on a whole, for the community. It expands what we are able to do here. This means a lot to us,” said Penny Buckles, President of the Flagler County Fair & Youth Show.
“I know this building is going to be really impactful for our local nonprofits that do special events because it’s going to be a space that’s big enough to have a large special event whether it’s a volunteer recognition event or a fundraiser. It will make a huge difference not just during bad weather but also during blue skies,” added Flagler Volunteer Services Executive Director Suzy Gamblain.
The Expo Center, located at the Flagler County Fairgrounds off Sawgrass Road, will provide a much-needed modern venue for events, gatherings, in addition to emergency response.
From left, Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance, Flagler County Fair & Youth Show President Penny Buckles, Flagler County Commission Vice Chair Leann Pennington, Flagler County Commissioner Greg Hansen, and Pennington’s son Clint. Flagler News Weekly
Vice Chair of the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners Leann Pennington, who has championed the project from its early stages, expressed her excitement about seeing the long-envisioned plan move forward.
“How amazing? I can’t even put it into words. This started as a small little conversation about the facilities we currently have for Cattlemen’s and it just developed into a project that benefits the entire community, not just the west side,” shared Pennington, grateful for the state funding provided to support the project that ensures additional space for special needs sheltering during disasters.
“This was my first project, I took it under my wing and we got the initial funding of $5 million and I was happy to have that. (We) obviously needed the full funding to complete it, so we, my son and I, drove back up to Tallahassee. We knocked doors not just of our leaders but appropriations chair, Senator Tom Leek. He really believed in the project and he promised he’d help us, and he did.”
“He had real compassion and understanding. I think he understood the vision of it. It’s a win for the state too. It fulfills an emergency management need for our county. I think it was all just perfect need, perfect place, perfect reason, and I think the community out here is going to utilize it a lot and love it,” she said.
The new, hurricane-hardened Expo Hall will be constructed to Category 5 standards and elevated above surrounding structures to mitigate flood risk. While its primary purpose will be as a community hub for fairs, festivals, and civic events, it will also serve as a stand-alone emergency shelter—a critical addition to Flagler County’s disaster readiness infrastructure.
Currently, the county depends on Flagler Schools to open shelters in their facilities during hurricanes or other emergencies. But as Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord explained, a dedicated building provides vital flexibility.
“This is a multipurpose building, and it is my hope that emergency management and sheltering will be the least of its uses,” said Lord. “I’d be happy if we only had to test the facility instead of using it for a hurricane. The rest of the time, it can be enjoyed by the community for recreation, events, and activities—but one that’s built to hurricane standards.”
