Matching Funds Grant recipients announced

Columbus, OH — With the county fair harness racing season beginning this week, the USTA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2019 Matching Funds Grant program. A total of 14 fairs and horsemen’s associations were awarded money for advertising and promoting harness racing at their fairs.

Below is the list of recipients:

Clearfield County Fair (Clearfield, Pa.)
Columbiana County Fair (Lisbon, Ohio)
Crawford County Agricultural Society (Bucyrus, Ohio)
Erie County Fair (Wattsburg, Pa.)
Fowlerville Harness Horsemen (Fowlerville, Mich.)
Indiana County Fair Association (Indiana, Pa.)
Jayland Trotting Association (Portland, Ind.)
Mercer County Fairgrounds (Celina, Ohio)
Mercer County Harness Horsemen’s Association (Celina, Ohio)
Newton County Pun’kin Vine Fair (Kentland, Ind.)
Preble County Fair (Eaton, Ohio)
The Great Frederick Fair (Frederick, Md.)
Van Wert County Fair (Van Wert, Ohio)
Walworth County Fair (Elkhorn, Wis.)

The Matching Funds Grant program was started in 2006 to aid county fairs and horsemen’s associations to support a grassroots marketing initiative at the fair level. The need for assistance this year ranged from $150-$1,000 (with $1,000 being the maximum assistance provided by the USTA to an applicant), proving that marketing and promotion can be done at any level. Winning proposals included billboard, radio, newspaper, television and online advertising; road signs; banners; and social media promotions.

There is an additional $10,000 available to assist fairs and horsemen’s groups in purchasing items to be given away during the races at their fairs. Groups must submit the paid invoice for and a photo of the product to jessica.schroeder@ustrotting.com and they will be reimbursed for half of the cost, up to $1,000 per group. Reimbursement is available first come, first served until the $10,000 budget is reached.

For more information about the Matching Funds Grant program, click here.

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