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A new grandstand at the North Dakota State Fair is an investment in the future, Gov. John Hoeven said Friday in Minot.

Local legislators along with fair and community leaders gathered at the fairgrounds for Hoeven's signing of Senate Bill 2009, which provides $15 million in general funds and $3 million in special-fund authority for demolition of the existing grandstand and construction of a new facility. Hoeven preceded the signing by acknowledging his support for the investments made by the 2009 Legislature.

"An example of that investing in the future is right here. Tourism is the No. 2 industry in North Dakota," he said. "This State Fair is a big deal when it comes to tourism in North Dakota."

Hoeven had included $17 million in general funds for the grandstand in his proposed budget to the Legislature. Legislators and others who battled to keep grandstand money in the budget considered the final appropriation to be a major accomplishment.

"When the governor put the grandstand in the budget, that was the key right there. That gave us the real basis by which to bring our message to the legislators," said Andy Maragos following the signing ceremony. The fair board had tapped former Republican state representative Maragos of Minot last year to head the lobbying effort.

"I wasn't sure if I was the right person to try to do it, but if they thought I could help in some way, I was very glad to help," Maragos said. He said he sought to bring together existing support in the Legislature for the fair. Another effort was a statewide, grassroots letter campaign directed toward legislators.

"Sometimes the process of success is eternal vigilance," said Maragos, whose sentiments were echoed by legislators.

"It was persistence and patience that rally carried us through," Sen. Karen Krebsbach, R-Minot, said. And 100 percent support from the Democratic caucus helped, too, Rep. Elwood Thorpe, D-Minot, said.

Maragos was quick to commend Minot legislators for pushing the grandstand bill toward passage. Legislators also earned the praise of city leaders. They deserve more credit that they often get, said Dean Frantsvog, Minot City Council president.

"We work hard for everything we get here," Frantsvog said. "The common theme is that we band together and work together to get things done."

Local legislators also credited various lawmakers hailing from Bowman to Mayville who played important roles in conference committees and with floor speeches that swayed the vote. Rep. Matt Klein, R-Minot, added that the testimony from Minot and the public was "very compelling."

With the signing of the bill, the fair board will move forward with construction plans. It has hired Zerr Berg Architects of Fargo to design the facility.

The fair board plans to demolish the existing grandstand, built in 1955, after this year's fair. Construction then would start on a new 7,000-seat, roofed grandstand that would be in place for the 2010 fair. Total capacity with standing room is 16,000 people. The existing grandstand seats 5,200 people, including about 2,000 people on bleachers outside the canopy.

The new facility will have additional rest rooms, full handicapped accessibility, additional concession stand locations and an updated electrical system that complies with state codes.

The fair has been discussing a new grandstand since 1982. In 2007, the Legislature denied a construction request for $11 million.