Workers are making progress on an $8.1 million exhibition hall and grandstands project at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds that officials say will be the finest facility of its kind in Montana.

The facility is set to open this autumn, and officials hope in the following year to complete several small portions of the work, which were cut from the project because of higher-than-expected construction bids. They hope to have those jobs finished in time for the 2009 Last Chance Stampede and Fair.

When complete, the facility will provide 36,000 square feet of indoor, climate-controlled show space — three times the size of the Civic Center. The outdoor arena measures 60,000 square feet, plenty of room for any equine or automotive event at the fair.

The new grandstands and the temporary bleachers, which will be moved to the arena, will seat more than 4,400. Add in enough outdoor space to hold an additional 5,000 people, and the new arena can hold nearly 10,000 attendees for an outdoor concert.

“When the exhibition hall and grandstands are done, people from all over the county will be proud of it, because it will be the best facility in the state,” Fairgrounds Foundation President Bob Fusie said.

Fairgrounds Manager Keith Hatch noted the facility is large enough to host three events at a time, and he said the county will be able to draw a wider array of events to the fairgrounds. To that end, officials recently hired an events coordinator to market the facility and attract trade shows, entertainment and more.

“Not to diminish the importance of our county fair, but we look at that as just one of many events of that size,” Hatch said.

This year’s fair will be held in the old arena while work continues at the building.

The project includes plenty of functional features, such as a handicapped-friendly elevator, more than twice as many women’s restrooms as men’s, an entry hall, heating, air-conditioning, and indoor and outdoor beverage gardens.

It won’t compete with other venues in town, such as the Civic Center and Carroll College’s PE Center. Groups wanting to hold events at the fairgrounds will have to rent at least 15,000 square feet — more space than the other facilities. They’ll pay 5.7 cents per square foot, or about a minimum of $2,000 per day.

Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com