MDARD Invests in Water Infrastructure at County Fairs

What this means

A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Unsupported Browser Detected

The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.

Supported Browsers

Google Chrome

Safari

Microsoft Edge

Firefox

MDARD Invests in Water Infrastructure at County Fairs

September 16, 2026

LANSING, Mich.—The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced nearly $500,000 of grants to help enhance water and wastewater systems at county fairgrounds across the state.

"County fairs are the highlight of Michigan summers, and they can't happen without reliable access to water," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "These new grants will help county fairs continue to provide clean drinking water to people and animals, implement new safety improvements and upgrade aging wastewater systems."

MDARD awarded water infrastructure grants to the following seven county fairs:

Allegan County Fair—$100,000 for water main replacement and fire suppression improvements that will enhance sanitation and safety.

Fowlerville Family Fair—$80,996 for water system and well improvements that will ensure reliable access to water, enhance sanitation and protect public health.

Ionia Free Fair—$50,000 to promote safety and public health by replacing drinking water lines at the fairgrounds.

Isabella County Fair—$46,829 for infrastructure improvements that will restore closed restrooms, ensure adequate water for livestock and return more of the fairgrounds to full use.

Shiawassee County Fair—$55,145 for water system improvements. Some of the improvements will increase water pressure throughout the fairgrounds. Other improvements will enable the separation of sewage from lightly used water in sinks and fountains. This separation will make water treatment easier and more efficient.

St. Joseph County Grange Fair—$71,148 to ensure safe and reliable access to water by replacing old water lines at the fairgrounds.

Tuscola County Fair—$92,868 to replace aging water lines, thereby ensuring safe and reliable access to water throughout the fairgrounds.

"We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to improve our water infrastructure," said Saree Miller, Executive Director of the Allegan County Fair. "This enhancement will boost water pressure, upgrade our water mains and strengthen fire suppression. Thanks to past MDARD grants and these ongoing improvements, we can continue providing a safe, clean environment and reliable water supply for all our patrons."

This is the first year that MDARD has offered County Fairs Water Infrastructure Capital Improvement Grants to help fairgrounds with water line replacement, well drilling and other projects to enhance water and wastewater systems. A joint evaluation committee reviewed all grant applications through a competitive process that evaluated the anticipated impact and measurable outcomes each project will have on Michigan's county fairs.

According to the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, Michigan's 86 county fairs attract more than 4.5 million attendees each year. Since 2019, MDARD has delivered more than $8.5 million through three grant programs to help Michigan s county fairs build infrastructure, replace aging water systems and promote agricultural events and education.

For more information about how MDARD supports county fairs, visit the County Fairs Water Infrastructure Capital Improvement Grants, the County Fairs Capital Improvement Grants and the Livestock and Commodity Exhibition Competitive Grants webpages.

###

Sign up to receive MDARD news

MI Newswire

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Media Contact:

Lynsey Mukomel

Public Information Officer

MukomelL1@michigan.gov

517-290-1734

Related News

MDARD Reminds Producers About Benefits of Using Licensed Grain Dealers

With the fall harvest in full swing, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reminding producers that using licensed grain dealers can help protect their financial interests.

MDARD’s Farm to Family Program Announces Grant Recipients Focused on Regen Ag

Today, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Farm to Family Program is announcing its latest grant recipients. The Regenerative Value Chains Grant Program focuses on expanding operations and market opportunities for farmers who are just starting out or want to broaden their impact and are using regenerative agriculture practices.

MDARD, MDHHS, and MDNR Recognize World Rabies Day, September 28

Stronger together: The collective efforts of every Michigander can help protect against rabies

MDARD Partners with Detroit Food Policy Council to Strengthen Urban Ag Local Food Access

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced a $494,960 grant to support the Detroit Food Policy Council (DFPC) in its work to enhance agricultural education, provide technical assistance to urban farmers, increase local food access and reduce food waste.

Box tree moth confirmed in Genesee County

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the detection of box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) in Genesee County This invasive pest is not a threat to Michigan’s natural resources, but it can lead to significant defoliation and death of ornamental boxwood.

MDARD Marks PFAS Awareness Week by Supporting New PFAS Research Projects

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced $1.9 million in grants for groundbreaking research to better understand and address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agriculture

Safety Today Success Tomorrow MDARD Recognizes National Farm Safety and Health Week

Safety is the cornerstone to the sustainability, resilience and integrity of Michigan’s agricultural industry and everyone has a role to play

MDARD MISP Take Next Step in Preventing Invasive Pests from Entering Michigan

Untreated firewood from outside Michigan no longer allowed beginning in 2027

First West Nile Virus-Positive Horse Identified in Missaukee County

Mosquitoes will continue to be active until there has been a hard freeze; take precautions to protect your animals, yourself, and your family

Release text attributed to Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.