Purpose

To provide funding to support arts access, education, and the preservation and promotion of Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage as expressed through county fairs. The bill redirects and/or adds money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to help county agricultural societies support their county fairs.

Main Provisions

• Establishes a targeted grant program funded from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
• Amounts: $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2027.
• Source and recipient: Funds go to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to county agricultural societies.
• Goals of grants: Enhance access to the arts, support arts education, and preserve and promote Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage as embodied in county fairs.
• Distribution method: Grants must be distributed in equal amounts to each of Minnesota’s 95 county fairs.
• Compatibility: These grants are in addition to the existing aid distribution to county agricultural societies under Minnesota Statutes section 38.02.
• Administration: The commissioner of agriculture must develop grantmaking criteria and guidance to ensure funding supports projects and events that provide arts access or promote the state's agricultural historical and cultural heritage.
• Stakeholder input: The commissioner must seek input from all interested parties.

Funding and Allocation Details

• The funds are a dedicated appropriation for 2026 and 2027, specifically earmarked to support county fairs through county agricultural societies.
• The distribution is equal across all 95 county fairs, ensuring uniform support nationwide within the state.

Administrative Oversight and Process

• The commissioner of agriculture is responsible for creating the criteria and guidance used to award these grants.
• The bill requires solicitation of input from a broad range of interested parties, ensuring stakeholder perspectives inform how funds are allocated and used.

Significance and Expected Impact

• Creates a new, time-limited funding stream (fiscal years 2026 and 2027) tied to the arts and cultural heritage mission.
• Enhances financial support for county fairs beyond existing aid programs, promoting arts access, education, and cultural preservation at the county level.
• Encourages standardized grant criteria and broad stakeholder involvement to guide eligible projects and events.

Relevant Terms arts and cultural heritage fund commissioner of agriculture county agricultural societies county fairs grants arts access education Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage grantmaking criteria and guidance input from interested parties Minnesota Statutes section 38.02 aid distribution