MonticelloLive

Governor Mike Beebe presented $42,697 to 12 county fair associations selected for funding through the County Fair Building Grant Program. The awards ceremony took place at the Governor’s Conference Room of the State Capitol on October 24th.
 
The Drew County Fair Association received $4,000 to purchase a chain link fence and gate for their fairgrounds.
 
The Arkansas Department of Rural Services works in partnership with the Arkansas Rural Development Commission to administer the County Fair Grant Program each year. Counties with a population of 55,000 or less are eligible to apply, and the state grant money awarded through the program is administered by the county judge.
 
This past fiscal year, the maximum award was $4,000 and eligible projects included construction, renovation, or general improvements of county fair buildings or purchase of items shown to directly improve the building or the services that the county fair association may provide. Traditionally, the maximum is award is $15,000 or $30,000 for the biennium, and projects are limited to the new construction of county fair buildings.
 
For more information about this grant program or the other services this agency provides, please contact the Department of Rural Services at 1-888-RURAL-AR.
 
Pictured from Left to Right: Front Row: ARDC-Chair Steve Cole, Representative Eddie Cheatham, Bobby Hood, Governor Mike Beebe, Sandy Hood, and ARDC-Vice-Chair Arnell Washington; Back Row: DRS Director Butch Calhoun, ARDC-Commissioner Sam E. Angel II