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Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Announces 2022 Grant Recipients for County Fairs

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Gary McDowell today announced the recipients of the 2022 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 submitted grants are awarded through a competitive process and reviewed by a joint evaluation committee.  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. There was $1,455,000 in funding allocated for the 2022 grant cycle with 28 recipients receiving funding.

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.

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 2021 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:

Bay County Fair & Youth Exposition, Equine Facilities Revitalization, $100,000
Berlin Fair, Parking and ADA Access Improvements, $63,666
Calhoun County Agricultural Society, Lockwood - Avery Granary, $60,000
Cass County Fair Association, Fire Suppression System for Exhibit, $100,000
Cheboygan County Fair, Electrical Improvements, $50,000
Chippewa County Fair, Electrical Upgrades, $56,000
Dickinson County Fair, Bathroom Remodel, $25,913
Eaton County Agricultural Society, Expand and Improve Grandstand Area, $62,000
Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair, Fiber Optic Cable Install, $16,000
Fowlerville Family Fair, Horse Barn Improvements, $71,829
Gratiot County Fair for Youth, Roofing Project, $45,000
Isabella County Youth & Farm Society, Horse Barn Restoration, $41,000
Kent County Youth Fair, Livestock Barn, and Security Fencing, $100,000
Lake Odessa Fair, Grandstand Modernization & Accessibility , $100,000
Marquette County Fair, Youth Building Upgrade, $18,500
Mecosta County Free Fair, Grandstand and Office Building Improvement, $50,000
Newaygo County Agricultural Assoc., NCAFA Office Roof Replacement, $52,666
Northern District Fair, Grandstand Infrastructure Upgrade, $22,666
Saginaw County Fair, Cement Floor, $12,300
Sanilac County Fairgrounds, Roof Replacement, $50,065
Shiawassee County Fair, Electrical Upgrades, $83,323
Clair County 4-H, Goodells Parking and Ground Improvements, $38,500
Joseph County Grange, Pathways to the Fair, $61,000
Tuscola County Fair, Roofing Improvements, $60,000
UP State Fair, Dairy and Speed Barn Roof Repair, $82,286
Van Buren Youth Fair, Pavement Restoration, $22,286

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

Isabella County Youth & Farm Society, Senior Showman Scholarship, $5,000
Ogemaw County Ag Expo, Return of Premiums, $5,000

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