The Auglaize County Fair Board took the next step Monday in finalizing the new arena project — approving the allocation of matching funds to secure a grant from the state which will pay for a good chunk of the long-awaited project.
According to Fair Board Secretary Fred Piehl, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has already allocated $50,000 in grant money for the new arena. All that is left to do is visit the state capital Wednesday to submit and finalize paperwork and assure the state of the ag society’s matching funds of $50,000, Piehl said.
The grant is a key piece in making the arena project, with a total price tag of about $400,000, a reality, and that reality is very soon to come, Piehl said, as work on the building is slated to begin in September.
See Tuesday's paper for the full story.