These Massachusetts agricultural fairgrounds awarded funding for infrastructure repairs
Rep. Blais of Deerfield, who covers 18 communities of the 1st Franklin District, said the agricultural fairs infrastructure grant program is intended to fund capital improvement projects to rehabilitate existing buildings and build new construction.
Meeting to be held on new Springfield Regional Justice Center
'Steeped in history, our agricultural fairs are a tremendous asset to the Commonwealth, not only acting as an economic engine but also as a unique place for visitors to learn about the importance of our local food systems,' said Blais, who serves as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture. 'I am proud to have worked alongside the agricultural fairs in the 1st Franklin District and across the state to lay the groundwork for this monumental investment. This would not have been possible without their involvement and the broad support of legislators and stakeholders statewide.'
Agricultural fairs offer education on the farming lifestyle as well as demonstrations and skills competitions. It is said that the first agricultural fair on record in the U.S. was held in Pittsfield in 1811.
The following are the Agricultural Fairs Infrastructure grant recipients for 2025:
Bolton Fair: $100,000
Association of North Chester, Chester Hill, and Littleville, Inc- Littleville Fair: $100,000
Essex Agricultural Society dba Topsfield Fair: $85,595.68
Franklin County Fair: $100,000
Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society- Three County Fair: $73,715
Heath Fair: $99,991.95
Highland Agricultural Society- Middlefield Fair: $23,995.01
Hillside Agricultural Society- Cummington Fair: $85,595.68
Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society- Marshfield Fair: $100,000
Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society- Martha's Vineyard Fair: $84,218
Middlesex County 4-H Fair: $50,000
The Westfield Fair Organization, Inc.- Westfield Fair: $100,000
Union Agricultural & Horticultural Society- Blandford Fair: $100,000
Williamsburg Grange Fair: $64,160.68
'Agricultural fairs are at the core of the communities they serve, bringing people together to enjoy and learn about agricultural traditions and practices and purchase locally produced food,' said Governor Maura Healey.
'Fairs have always been festive gathering spaces where attendees can learn more about our shared agricultural heritage while enjoying a fun atmosphere and where consumers can forge connections to the local food system by familiarizing themselves with how their local food is grown,' said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. 'Beyond the educational and entertaining factors that they bring, these events also boost economic activity which can trickle down to adjacent sectors increasing the overall economy in Massachusetts.'
'Agricultural fairs in Massachusetts are a cornerstone of our state's rich farming history and tradition,' said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper.
Funding was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). 'For hundreds of years, agricultural fairs have been a way for the public to understand the importance of farming and how a thriving agricultural sector benefits everyone,' said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle.
'The Franklin County Agricultural Society is incredibly appreciative of Rep. Blais and her colleagues in the Legislature for their support of this infrastructure grant' said Michael Nelson, president of the Society. 'The Franklin County Fairgrounds has a deep history of providing agricultural events as far back as the 1850s. Through this funding we will continue to make crucial investments in our facility to ensure this historic and beloved gathering space continues to enrich our community for generations to come'
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
5 hours ago
- Epoch Times
In Las Vegas, House Republicans Tout New Budget Bill, No Taxes on Tips
House Republicans chose Las Vegas as the place to stage their first public field hearing touting the benefits of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, the fiscal year 2026 federal budget signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4. Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) said the bill 'was born here' after a conversation between Trump and a server galvanized the presidential candidate to support an old idea: no taxes on the first $25,000 earned in tips.
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
What's the latest on Trump's plan to end penny production? What to know
WASHINGTON - Republican lawmakers in Congress are forging ahead with President Donald Trump's plan to end the production of pennies, a move that could potentially cost jobs and affect the way businesses handle cash transactions. The House Financial Services Committee, which oversees banking, insurance and other related matters, advanced a bill dubbed the 'Common Cents Act' by a vote of 35-13 on July 23. The bill would formalize Trump's February order directing the Treasury Department to halt penny production, and round cash transactions to the nearest five cents. It was introduced by Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Michigan, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, at the end of April. 'The Common Cents Act is about fiscal responsibility and good government,' McClain, the House Republican Conference chairwoman, said in a statement. 'Taxpayers shouldn't be footing the bill to produce a coin that loses money every time it's made. It's time to modernize our currency policy and bring some common sense — and Common Cents — to Washington.' With House lawmakers out for their annual one month summer break, and the Senate soon to go on theirs, there won't be much action taken on the bill until after they return. Trump has previously deemed the one-cent coins as 'wasteful,' arguing that it's pricey to produce them. A 2024 annual report from the United States Mint found that the cost of making a penny was 3.69 cents. Here's the latest on the push to end penny production. GOP lawmaker pushes back, then supports bill Republican Tennessee Rep. John Rose, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee, originally expressed concerns over the 'Common Cents Act," but later supported the initiative. Tennessee is home to the nation's sole manufacturer of penny blanks. Blanks are flat metal discs that eventually become coins, according to the U.S. Morrison, the mayor of Greene County, Tennessee, where the blanks are produced, has argued that ending penny production could cost individuals their jobs. In a House Financial Services Committee markup on July 23, Rose argued that eliminating the penny 'without a well crafted plan' to phase out the one-cent coin won't accomplish the goal of 'improving the cost and efficiency of US currency.' 'As it stands, there's been no time provided for states, retailers or consumers to prepare for a penniless economy,' he said. 'We need to do that responsibly and thoughtfully.' However, Rose ultimately said he would vote in favor of the act, after getting reassurance from his colleague that his concerns would be addressed. What are the bill's next steps in Congress? The influential House Rules Committee, which sets terms for how a bill will be debated on, amended and voted on by members in the lower chamber, must take up the bill next. When the bill will go through the committee is still unclear, as House lawmakers have left Washington, D.C., for summer break. The bill does face an uphill battle in the Senate, however, as seven Democrats will need to join Republicans in breaking a 60-vote threshold and advancing it to a final vote (assuming all Republicans support the bill). Republicans have a 53-seat majority in the upper chamber. Gillibrand said in a statement that she's 'optimistic this bill will be passed swiftly in the Senate.' Lummis told USA TODAY that she looks 'forward to continuing our partnership with Senator Gillibrand and the Trump Administration to move the Common Cents Act towards passage in the Senate.' When will the government stop producing pennies? The government made its final order of penny blanks in May − the first step to end the production of the one-cent coin, a spokesperson for the Treasury Department told USA TODAY that month. "The United States Mint will continue to manufacture pennies while an inventory of penny blanks exists," the spokesperson said at the time. It is unclear when the inventory will run out. However, the Louisville Courier Journal reported that the Treasury Department will phase out the production of pennies beginning in early 2026. Contributing: Melina Khan, USA TODAY
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
US-Japan trade deal gives Trump control over $550 billion in investments. It could be ‘vapor ware' — and a model for other countries
One of the provisions of the trade deal that set a 15% tariff on Japan is a pledge from Tokyo to invest $550 billion in key American sectors. The White House said the money will be deployed 'at President Trump's direction,' potentially giving him a bigger say in U.S. industrial policy. But details remain thin, and analysts are skeptical. The pledge from Japan to invest $550 billion in key U.S. industries could show other countries how to clinch a trade deal with the U.S., even as analysts question how real that money is. As part of the agreement that set a 15% tariff rate on Japan, the White House said it includes a 'Japanese/USA investment vehicle' that will be deployed 'at President Trump's direction' into strategic sectors. They include energy infrastructure and production, semiconductors, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, and shipbuilding, according to a fact sheet from the administration. The U.S. would retain 90% of the profits, though the Japanese government believes profits will be split based on 'the degree of contribution and risk taken by each party,' according to the Financial Times. Still, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted the fund as a key reason the U.S. and Japan were able to settle on a levy that was lower than the 25% rate Trump had threatened earlier. 'They got the 15% rate because they were willing to provide this innovative financing mechanism,' he told Bloomberg TV on Wednesday, when asked if other countries could get a similar rate. Indeed, analysts at Bank of America said that the Japan deal 'looks like a reasonable blueprint' for other auto-exporting countries like South Korea. Both countries have similar trade characteristics with the U.S., such as high current account surpluses, high U.S.-bound exports, and less open domestic markets via non-tariff measures, the bank said in a note on Friday. At the same time, the U.S. is also negotiating deals with the European Union and other trading partners ahead of an Aug .1 deadline, when Trump's pause on his reciprocal tariffs will expire. But Wall Street has serious doubts that the $550 billion will actually materialize. Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute and a former Bank of Japan policymaker, said in a note Wednesday that the investment pledge is merely a target and not a binding promise. 'In reality, under the Trump administration, many Japanese companies likely view the business environment in the U.S. as deteriorating due to tariffs and other factors,' he explained. 'Furthermore, at current exchange rates, labor costs in the U.S. are extremely high, providing little incentive for Japanese firms to expand investment there. If anything, we may see a stronger trend toward diversifying investments away from the U.S.' Meanwhile, Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow Brad Setser, a former U.S. Trade Representative advisor and Treasury Department official, similarly expressed skepticism about the money. 'Odds are it is vapor ware, beyond the known deals (Alaska LNG),' he posted on X on Wednesday, likening it to a highly touted product that may never become available, 'but it would be strange (and would potentially set up future problems) if the US relied almost entirely on other people's money to fund its own industrial strategies.' He later added 'there is a lot less here than meets the eye,' and pointed out that the industrial sectors highlighted as areas for investment are already logical ones for Japan, given current supply-chain concerns. A source familiar with the matter acknowledged to Fortune that a lot of details of the $550 billion have yet to be ironed out. That includes the timeframe of the investment as well as an advisory board and guardrails against potential conflicts of interest. But the source added that the investment would be funded by the Japanese government and is not a just pledge from Tokyo to buy commodities or for Japanese companies to steer investments into the U.S. It also means Japan is fronting the cash to finance projects that are likely to be in the private sector, the source said, offering a hypothetical example of a chip company looking to build a U.S. plant. Under this scenario, the investment vehicle could finance construction of the factory and lease it out at favorable terms to the chip company, with 90% of the rent revenue going to the U.S. government. The $550 billion pledge also comes as Trump's tariffs face legal challenges, with a court hearing scheduled Thursday on whether the president has authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose wide-ranging duties. That could make it attractive for countries to promise a lot of money sometime in the future to obtain immediate tariff relief, while running out the clock as legal battles play out. Analysts at Piper Sandler have concluded that Trump's tariffs are illegal and noted that the $550 billion Japanese investment comes with few concrete specifics. 'Our trading partners and major multinationals know Trump's tariffs are on shaky legal ground,' they wrote. 'Therefore, we find it hard to believe many of them are going to make massive investments in the US they would not have otherwise made in response to tariffs that may not last.' This story was originally featured on Sign in to access your portfolio
