Governor Mike Beebe and Director John Andrews presented $16,972.52 to 5 county fair associations selected for funding through the Fiscal Year 2015 County Fair Building Grant Program. The awards ceremony took place at the Governor’s Reception Room of the State Capitol on May 8, 2014.

Lawrence County Fair Association received $4000 to wire new barn on fairgrounds and finish all electrical work.

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.

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: ARDC Chair Lynn Hawkins, Representative James Ratliff, Governor Mike Beebe, Senator Robert Thompson, DRS Director John Andrews