For immediate release: December 8, 2017  Program contact: Cinda Karlik, 517-284-5723  Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced today a competitive grant opportunity for Michigan’s county fairs to make building and other capital improvements to their fairground facilities. Additionally, grants are available for associations or other organized events hosting fairs or expositions showing livestock and commodities. Both grant proposals must be received by MDARD no later than 5 p.m. on February 1, 2018.

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.

The submitted grants will go through a competitive grant process and will be reviewed by an evaluation committee.

Eligible applicants include fairs that are incorporated under Act 80 of 1855 or county owned and operated fairs operating under Act 11 of 1929 that have submitted all required year-end reports for the prior two years. Fairs that did not receive a competitive capital improvement grant for the grant period of April 1 through December 31, 2017.

The shows and expositions grant provides financial support for awards in the form of premiums or promotional activities of the livestock and commodity expositions.

Livestock expositions hosting expos must meet the required number of exhibitors.

For detailed program information, application form, and submission criteria, please visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdard or contact Cinda Karlik at karlikc@michigan.gov or 517-284-5723. Proposal should be sent to P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909 and must be RECEIVED (not postmarked) by 5 p.m. on February 1, 2018.

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