LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Even in March, it’s not too early for organizations to plan for their next county fair. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is assisting in those preparations, with a new grant opportunity to help with fairgrounds and their water systems.
“Our main objective is to provide safe and reliable drinking water, as well as wastewater infrastructure on fairgrounds for fair goers and livestock,” explained MDARD County Fair Grant Administrator, Zane Stanton. “Things like waterline replacement, new wells, animal watering systems, and sewage and septic upgrades.”
The grant builds off of two other programs through MDARD’s County Fair Infrastructure Capital Improvement grants, that have helped spread nearly $8 million for new livestock barns and grandstands since 2019.
“We’re awarding up to $100,000 in individual awards, and what’s really cool is that there is a $0 cash match on all of these awards,” said Stanton.
Eligible county owned and operated fairs must be incorporated under Act 80 of 1855, or be operating under Act 11 of 1929, and have submitted to MDARD all required year-end reports for the prior three years. County fairs who lease grounds must have a minimum five-year lease to use the grounds for their annual fair and other events.
Applications are due by June 15 at 5 p.m. More information can be found at MDARD’s County Fairs Water Infrastructure Improvement Grants web page at michigan.gov.
