County Fairs Water Infrastructure Capital Improvement Grant

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering the Water Infrastructure Capital Improvement Grant opportunity to county fairs within the state. This program will assist in the enhancement of water infrastructure at county fairgrounds. The funding would support improvements in water systems at county fairs that will ultimately protect human, animal, and environmental health. Funded through Michigan's Emerging Contaminants in Food and Agriculture appropriation, the priority of this program focuses on reducing current risks and preventing future impacts from emerging contaminants across drinking water, wastewater, and other fairground water infrastructure. Total funding available for this grant program is $500,000 for fiscal year 2026.

Water infrastructure improvement examples: water line replacement; sewage or septic upgrades; well drilling; municipal hookup; filtration systems; upgrades to animal watering systems; water storage capabilities.

Eligibility requirements:

• Fairs incorporated under Act 80 of 1855 – Local Agricultural or Horticultural Society.

• County-owned and operated fairs operating under Act 11 of 1929.

• County fairs that have submitted all required year-end reports for the prior three years.

• Fair Associations leasing their grounds must have a minimum of a five-year lease for the use of the grounds to hold the annual fair and other non-fair events.

• Cost reimbursement grant and must have a 0% cash match (no match required).

• Grants will be awarded a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $100,000.

• Limit of one project and proposal per fair association.

• Project/program duration: August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2028. Interim reports due August 1, 2027; final reports due August 31, 2028. Interim and final reporting dates will be identified in the final grant document.

• Scoring (100 points): Project Purpose 25%, Expected Measurable Outcomes 20%, Budget 15%, Potential Impact 15%, Work Plan 15%, Sustainability 10%.

Complete the application form and use the prescribed format to complete a grant request. All grant proposals shall be submitted electronically to MDARD as defined in the timeline. Proposals shall be submitted via the MDARD MiAgGrants Grant Management System, which is accessed through MiLogin.

FY2026 timeline: announcement March 16, 2026; grant proposals due June 15, 2026, 5pm; recipients announced early August 2026; project/program duration August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2028.

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