State Leaders Highlight Agriculture, Infrastructure Investments at UP State Fair

ESCANABA, Mich. — Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and Director Tim Boring of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will highlight millions of dollars of investment in local businesses and communities while visiting the Upper Peninsula (UP) State Fair in Escanaba today.

"We are working hard to help Michiganders stay and succeed in every corner of Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula,"  said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. "I'm excited to visit the UP State Fair today and highlight these grants, which will invest in local businesses, reduce energy costs, boost agricultural yields, and grow the UP economy. Let s keep Standing Tall for Yooper families and working together to build a bright future for every community in our state."

Over the past seven years, MDARD has invested more than $16 million of grant funding in agriculture, infrastructure and conservation projects throughout the UP. This funding has included more than $4.8 million of rural development grants and nearly $6.6 million of forestry assistance and other conservation-related grants.  

"Agriculture is the foundation of prosperous and resilient communities,"  said Director Boring. "MDARD is investing strategically to help expand the UP s agriculture economy, strengthen local food systems, preserve our natural resources and improve quality of life for UP families."

In 2025 alone, MDARD has invested in more than a dozen major projects across the UP, including:

• Ishpeming, Negaunee and Ely Township - $300,000 for three projects to build safe drinking water infrastructure and replace failing sewer line.
• Ishpeming - $100,000 to support the Partridge Creek Community Farm s expansion project, which will boost production yields and increase community access to locally grown food.
• Escanaba - $100,000 to help Rainbow Packing, Inc. update and expand their processing capabilities, generating two full-time jobs and one part-time job.
• Iron River - $100,000 to Willis Family Maple Farm LLC to expand and modernize their maple sugar operation, generating one full-time and four part-time jobs.
• Marquette - $100,000 to install a rooftop solar project at Northern Michigan University to reduce campus utility costs.
• Marquette - $65,448 to help Lakeshore Depot L3C implement and operate a local food distribution project that will improve families access to Michigan-grown produce.

"The $100,000 Value-Added Producer Grant we received from MDARD is a huge step forward for our business,"  said Ken Willis of Willis Family Maple. "It will allow us to expand our production, improve our operations and bring even more high-quality, locally produced maple products to our community and beyond."

In addition to supporting local businesses and food systems, MDARD has invested $6.8 million over the past seven years to help build county fair infrastructure throughout the state of Michigan. In 2025, MDARD's investments in UP county fairs included:

• $80,000 to the Gogebic County Fair for accessibility and safety improvements.
• $63,200 to the Houghton County Fair Association for electrical upgrades to ensure safe lighting, sound and ventilation.
• $12,500 to the Alger County Fair to support livestock infrastructure and safety improvements.

"The Houghton County Fair is grateful for the improvements made possible by MDARD grants over the past several years,"  said Carol Saari, Manager of the Houghton County Fair. "Better LED lighting, a new floor and the addition of restrooms, a multipurpose room and a permanent ticket booth have contributed to the comfort and safety of our Exhibit Building for the exhibitors, volunteers and visiting public during the fair and other off-season events."

While visiting the UP State Fair, Director Boring will join Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) and other partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurating a new emergency response trailer for the Western UP. The trailer will operate under MSUE s Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock (ERAIL) program, which MDARD supported with nearly $500,000 of grant funding to accelerate the program's impact.

Learn more about MDARD grant opportunities.

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