Vermont fair organizers tell Senate committee grants and permitting changes are keeping community fairs alive

Organizers from county and community fairs told the Vermont Senate Institutions committee on Feb. 18 that state capital grants and stipend payments are critical to keeping fairs operating across the state, and they urged clearer permitting guidance on a new "3-acre" stormwater rule to prevent costly re-permitting and construction that could temporarily shutter events.

Jackie Olson, who identified herself as the fairs' lobbyist and board secretary, told the committee the fairs generate broad local economic activity: "it's over $9,000,000 for all the fairs that they're bringing into the community and putting back out into the community." Olson also summarized existing legislative support as capital grants of roughly $300,000 and stipends of about $110,000 statewide.

Why it matters: fairs are largely volunteer-run civic institutions that draw visitors, vendors and local spending while hosting year-round community uses such as concerts, youth sports and public-safety trainings. Witnesses warned that large infrastructure fixes tied to the 3-acre stormwater rule may force fairs to…