The Washington State Department of Agriculture and the state Legislature funded improvements to both the Grays Harbor and Pacific counties fairgrounds.
For Grays Harbor County, the fairground was funded $104,000 for blacktop removal and replacement and installation of a storm drain system; $10,000 for pre-construction tasks for a livestock barn replacement; and $10,000 for phase one planning for a hospitality building.
The Pacific County Fair received $250,000 for drainage remediation, a covered horse arena, a multi-use livestock building and a milking parlor.
The department stated in a press release it recognizes the importance of Washington’s fairgrounds, especially to the rural, more remote locations across the Evergreen state. Since 2003, state lawmakers have awarded roughly $2 million each biennium to health and safety improvement to fairgrounds and facilities.
However, in 2021, the legislature awarded $8 million, enabling 78 projects to be funded across the state. Fair organizers were able to submit applications for projects equal to or less than $250,000, for capital improvements.
Some of the big funding winners include:
• The Central Washington State Fair, awarded $248,000
• The Grant County Fair, which received a $250,000
• The Okanogan County Fairgrounds, which also received $250,000
• The Southwest Washington fairgrounds which was awarded over $250,000
During the pandemic, county fairs were used as vaccination centers; during wildfires, fairs are used to shelter people and livestock; and during the summer months, fairs educate the public about the importance of agriculture in our lives and to our state’s economy.
The WSDA said a capital improvement is addition of a structural change or restoration of some part of the property that will improve the health and safety of fair goers.
Projects include upgrades to electrical systems, upgrades to ventilation and filtration systems, replacing drain fields for restrooms, remodeling or constructing restrooms, repairing asphalt on fairgrounds, upgrades to livestock barns and ag buildings, reroofing, adding heating and air conditioning, and many others.
Some projects are large and are part of even larger projects on their grounds. The smallest grant awarded was $5,500 for the installation of new sheep pens and barricades at the Pierce County Fair. To date, 15 projects are complete. Most of the rest are on track to be complete by May 31.
If the Legislature chooses to include funding to the fairs program in the next capital budget, the program will distribute grant applications for fairs next July.
