The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopted the 2026 budget for the San Mateo County Event Center on Dec. 9 after a presentation by Dana Store, the center’s CEO.

Store said the center acts as a year‑round community hub and emergency resilience site. The 2026 plan includes completion of an RV park (sited over an underground stormwater tank), upgrades to Fiesta Hall (lobbies and restrooms), and a county resiliency kitchen expected to be operational in August. The county contributed $1,000,000 to the first solar generation project on the fairgrounds, and three new industrial generators were installed to ensure backup power for every building on site.

Store highlighted community programs the site hosts — from the San Mateo County Fair to workforce programs such as Fortitude and Tool Works — and said the resiliency kitchen will support organizations such as Samaritan House during large‑scale needs. She described an inclement‑weather “gift store” stocked with donated clothing, toiletries and undergarments for shelter guests.

Supervisors thanked staff and emphasized the facility’s role in regional emergency preparedness, and the board approved the budget by roll call late in the morning. The board noted a feasibility study is underway to explore higher‑education, conference and field uses of the property and asked staff for updates as those studies proceed.

Next steps: Event Center staff will continue the capital schedule (RV park, resiliency kitchen and solar) and report back on feasibility‑study outcomes and implementation timelines as requested by the board.