Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Announces 2024 Grant Recipients for County Fairs and Expositions

Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development sent this bulletin at 05/16/2024 10:03 AM EDT
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For immediate release: May 16, 2024              
Program contact: Tracy Ebels, (517) 285-8463
Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Announces 2024 Grant Recipients for County Fairs and Expositions

LANSING – Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring today announced the recipients of the 2024 competitive grants to county fairs to make building and other capital improvements on their fairground facilities. Additionally, MDARD also awarded grants to associations or other organized events hosting fairs/expositions showing livestock and commodities. The capital improvement program provides additional funds for county fair officials to help make needed improvements to their fairground facilities; including but not limited to structural improvements or other renovations to buildings.

In addition, the shows and expositions grants provide financial support for awards in the form of premiums or promotional activities of the livestock and commodity expositions, fairs and festivals. Livestock expositions hosting expos must meet the required number of exhibitors.

There is $1.5 million in funding allocated for the 2024 grant cycle for both grant programs with 24 recipients receiving funding. The submitted grants are awarded through a competitive process and reviewed by a joint evaluation committee. 

Eligible applicants for the capital improvement grant program include fairs incorporated under Act 80 of 1855 or county owned and operated fairs operating under Act 11 of 1929 and have not received a grant in the 2023 grant cycle.  Also, they have submitted all required annual reports for the prior three years.

The selected and confirmed recipients for the Capital Improvement grants are listed below:

  • Chippewa County Fair, Lighting Replacement, $66,666.67
  • Mecosta County Fair, Electric and Lighting Upgrades, $27,500
  • Bay County Fair, Livestock Arena Upgrades, $100,000
  • Marquette County Fair, Youth Building Upgrades, $80,000
  • Kent County Youth Fair, New Bathhouse Construction, $100,000
  • Lenawee County Fair, Livestock Barn Improvements, $100,000
  • Monroe County Fair, Parking Lot Expansion, $100,000
  • Upper Peninsula State Fair, Rebuild Youth Exhibitor Arena, $100,000
  • Lake Odessa Agricultural Association, Campground Office/Restroom Upgrades, $100,000
  • Shiawassee County Fair, Dairy Barn Repairs, $56,093
  • Clair County 4-H & Youth Fair, Parking & Grounds Improvements, $15,000
  • Cass County Fair Assoc., New Restroom/Shower and Storm Shelter Facility, $100,000
  • Dickinson County Fair, Paving Upgrades for Fair and Midway Accessibility, $100,000
  • Fowlerville Family Fair, Grandstand Upgrades, $100,000
  • Gratiot County Youth Fair, Accessibility & Restroom Renovations, $60,000
  • Northwestern Michigan Fair Association, Grandstand Upgrades, $100,000
  • Isabella County Youth and Farm Fair, Restroom & Shower House Remodel, $100,000
  • Jackson County Fair, Bleacher Replacement, $49,740.33

The selected and confirmed recipients for the Shows and Exposition grants are listed below:

  • Grand Livestock Foundation, Livestock Show Award Support, $5,000
  • Montcalm County Fair, Promotional Support - Marketing and Signage, $5,000
  • Ogemaw County Fair, Premium Award Assistance, $5,000
  • Oakland County 4-H Fair, Livestock and Poultry Class Award Support, $2,150
  • Shiawassee County Fair, Promotional Support, $4,500
  • Isabella County Youth and Farm Fair, Senior Showman Scholarships, $3,350

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