Photo: Chelsea Fair website
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) recently announced $525,000 of grants to fund infrastructure improvements at county fairground facilities and to support livestock and commodity expositions.
“County fairs and expositions are cherished summer traditions that boost local commerce while providing the training and education young Michiganders need to become future leaders in agriculture,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “Today’s county fair grants enhance safety and invest in the infrastructure and programs that connect Michiganders to each other and to the foods that nourish our communities.”
MDARD awarded $507,000 of County Fairs Capital Improvement Grants to help the following eight entities invest in grandstands, livestock housing, electrical improvements and other projects:
- Chelsea Community Fair $59,580 to construct fairground pathways that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Jackson County Fair $56,667 to renovate fairground restrooms.
- Lake Odessa Civic & Agricultural Association $100,000 for livestock facility upgrades.
- Montcalm County Fair Association $29,707 to upgrade the fair’s public announcement and security systems.
- Northwestern Michigan Fair (Traverse City) $92,049 to replace the poultry barn at the fairgrounds.
- Ottawa County Fair $11,997 for electrical service upgrades to support 4-H activities and improve power stability for livestock areas, campers and vendors.
- Shiawassee County Fair $57,000 to replace the concrete floor of the fair’s sheep barn.
- Upper Peninsula State Fair (Escanaba) $100,000 to replace the roof of the fair’s beef barn.
Michigan’s 86 county fairs attract an estimated 4.5 million attendees annually. In addition to providing grant support, MDARD helps ensure the safety and success of Michigan’s county fairs by licensing and inspecting food vendors, performing animal health inspections and delivering educational programming.
114 North Main St Suite 10 Chelsea, MI 48118
