Grants will fund infrastructure improvements for county fairgrounds

FRANKFORT (Nov. 13, 2023) - Six Kentucky county fairs boards were awarded almost $475,000 from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) for new construction and renovation projects, Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles has announced.

“At the heart of our agriculture communities are our county fairs. Each year I get the unique honor of announcing grants to local county fair boards for infrastructure improvements,” Commissioner Quarles said. “These grants allow county fair boards to enhance the environment of livestock shows for their communities and ag partners.”

The amount and the recipient of each grant include:
• Bath County - $100,000 for the demolition of an old building and construction of a new barn;
• Cumberland County - $82,500 for a building renovation;
• Gallatin County - $59,165.25 for an arena, announcer stand, fencing, lighting, and a speaker system;
• Henry County – 83,182.50 to update the power distribution center, lighting for the arena/track area, electric hook-ups, and arena speakers;
• Hopkins County - $75,000 for the demolition of a livestock barn, the construction of a new livestock barn, and updating the electric in all other barns; and
• Letcher County (Isom Festival) - $75,000 for the construction of bleachers, sheds, concrete, and fencing.

Any incorporated fair board in Kentucky may apply with the State Aid to Local Agricultural Fairs Program for grants in the amount of $10,000-$100,000. Each grant will fund 75 percent of the total cost of the project, with the local fair board matching the other 25 percent. Each project must be started within 90 days of the date the project was awarded and must be completed within nine months.

Grants may be used for infrastructure or facility improvements, capital construction, or purchase of non-permanent tangible items such as bleachers or restaurant equipment.

Applications must be submitted to the KDA’s Shows and Fairs Division and postmarked no later than Oct. 1 of each year. The Kentucky County Fair Council reviews the applications and selects the winning proposals.

For more information about the State Aid to Local Agricultural Fairs Program, go to kyagr.com/marketing/county-fair-program.html.