Requests for Proposals for County Fair Resiliency Grant

The County Fair Resiliency Grant (CFRG) is administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) under the authority of the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota through House Bill No. 1591. This one-time competitive grant opportunity aims to support infrastructure improvement projects for county agricultural fairs throughout North Dakota. The grant program seeks to enhance the resilience and sustainability of fairgrounds and agricultural facilities via targeted investment in physical infrastructure. The primary goal of the CFRG program is to provide funding to county agriculture fair associations or entities managing county fairs in North Dakota for planning, design, and construction-related projects. Eligible uses of funds include construction or renovation of permanent structures, such as livestock barns and exhibition halls; utility upgrades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC); improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act; installation or upgrade of water and sewer systems; site preparation; permanent fencing; materials and supplies necessary for construction; and professional services directly tied to infrastructure development like engineering and architectural design. The total funding available through the CFRG program is $1.5 million, with individual awards capped at $100,000. Recipients must provide a matching contribution of one dollar from nonstate sources for every two dollars of grant funding received. These matching contributions may be cash or in-kind, with no more than 50 percent of the match coming from in-kind contributions. The project performance period runs approximately from May 5, 2025, to June 30, 2027. Applications must be submitted through the NDDA’s official website by May 30, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. Submissions received after this deadline will not be accepted. Applications must include contact details, a thorough description of the project, and details on how the funds will be used. Projects will be evaluated based on how well they align with the program’s statutory objectives and the strength of the proposal. NDDA reserves the right to adjust funding amounts or request changes to project scopes. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Grant Award, which must be signed and returned within 30 days. Projects must comply with all relevant state laws and grant conditions. NDDA may perform site visits and require documentation for reimbursement. Reimbursements are processed quarterly, with a ten percent holdback until final reporting is satisfactorily completed. Final reports must summarize project performance, ROI, beneficiaries, and outcomes and may be posted publicly on the NDDA website. For assistance or questions, applicants may contact John F. Schneider at the North Dakota Department of Agriculture via phone at 701-319-6958 or email at agbusiness@nd.gov.