Bedford County fair officials outline $21,000 plan from state fair grant for bleachers, lighting and PA

Kyle Robinson, who identified himself in the meeting as vice president and a project lead, told the committee that the Tennessee Association of Fairs (TAF) worked with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture on a statewide grant that totaled $1,500,000 and that Bedford County’s portion was "just a little over $20" (about $21,000).

Robinson outlined a prioritized list of fairground improvements that organizers hope to pay for with the one-time grant money. He said replacing carriage bolts for bleacher seating—"the carriage bolts alone are almost $2,400"—and installing 2-by-8 treated walk boards are among near-term priorities. Committee members were told organizers also secured a 15-foot, three-tier aluminum bleacher purchased outside Atlanta and that additional needs include LED lighting upgrades in the middle of the arena, replacing box fans with jet-stream fans, installing or upgrading a livestock PA system and undertaking GFI electrical work in Building 2 and the livestock barn.

Robinson said the grant is a single-use award requiring before-and-after photos and an itemized expenditure list to the TAF and the state. "We have to turn in the sheets like you have... what are your expenditures? What improvement does it make?" he said, calling the reporting requirement straightforward and noting TAF may use the county’s submission to seek larger recurring funding for fair improvements statewide.

Organizers said they will also ask the county to consider a budget contribution in the next fiscal year to continue improvements. The committee took no binding budget action at the meeting; Robinson said organizers were ready to begin projects with grant funds in hand.