LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has announced its next cycle of county fairs and exhibitions grants, a yearly round of grants that did not happen in 2020 due to the covid-19 outbreak in Michigan.

The County Fairs Capital Improvement Grant Program is a competitive grant and has $475,000 allocated for 2021, said Cinda Karlik, who helps administer the program at MDARD. The maximum grant this year is $30,000. This is significantly less than what was available per awardee in 2019, where several fairs received grants for $40,000. The total amount awarded in 2019 was considerably larger as well, with nearly $855,000 in grants for this program.

Building improvements are costs related to making changes to improve buildings which are used for fair purposes and are owned by the fair association or political subdivision, according to MDARD. These improvements will extend the useful life of the building. Capital improvements are costs related to making structural improvements or other renovations to a building or enhance its usefulness or productivity.

This year county fair officials will be happy just to be able to have in person gatherings. Last year those did not happen, leaving fair organizers resorting to some online events. That’s what Michigan Association of Fairs and & Exhibitions (MAFE) President Brian Kuemin was involved with last week during MAFE’s annual convention. Kuemin said the online event, taking place on Friday and Saturday, went well. But clearly he and others involved in county fairs would very much like to return to in person venues as soon as possible.

“It’s pretty early in the deciding factor for all of that,” Kuemin said. “I’m cautiously optimistic; I don’t think any fair is not planning on having an in-person event this year.” Kuemin expressed disappointment that grant amounts this year will be less than in 2019. Kuemin said 2020 was a tough year for everyone involved.

“Although they did what they could with virtual gatherings, this is a community event. I think it’s so important for people to be able to gather together and I sure hope that the fairs happen this year,” he added.

MAFE Director-at-Large and Saline Community Fair board member Steve Thelen largely echoed Kuemin’s comments about the fair community’s hopes for full in-person fairs this year. Thelen said there is a lot of enthusiasm for these events. He added that there were some live events last year, namely in the livestock, so-called show-and-go events. These events were also done virtually as well as by using still photography.

Thelen added that the capital improvement grants are very helpful, because building improvement and renovation projects tend to be expensive. They include new siding, re-roofing, rewiring of old barns, asphalt paving and upgrading of bathroom facilities. Projects can often run into the six figures, he said.

Proposals will be reviewed by an evaluation committee as part of the competitive grant process. Eligible applicants include fairs that are incorporated under Act 80 of 1855 or county owned and operated fairs operating under Act 11 of 1929 and that have submitted all required year-end reports for the prior three years. Livestock expositions hosting expos must meet the required number of exhibitors. For more program information, application, and submission criteria, visit michigan.gov/mdardgrants or contact Cinda Karlik at (517) 290-8114 or email her at karlikc@michigan.gov no later than 5 p.m. on March 15.