GREENVILLE — Montcalm County 4-H Association broke ground on its new location on Peck Road Tuesday evening. Sweetening the event was the announcement of a personal donation of $100,000 from Meijer Inc. Chairman Emeritus Fred Meijer and his wife, Lena, that will go toward the new fairgrounds’ building plan.

“This is a great gift from Fred and Lena Meijer,” said Pat Schuster, president of Montcalm County 4-H Association. “They told me they were more than happy to help.” Fred Meijer is an alumnus of the Montcalm County 4-H program and Lena Meijer was active in showing registered Guernsey cattle at the 4-H Fair.

Along with the Meijers’ donation, the new fairgrounds committee has received donations from Consumer’s Energy, Isabella Bank, Chemical Bank and Durst Drywall, each one donating $10,000.

Mike McGonigal, chairman of the new fairgrounds committee for the 4-H Association, said the building plan for the new site, a work in progress over 10 years, will range between $3 million and $3.5 million.

However, he added, with inkind services and support from local businesses and agencies, he is confident that the amount of money that will actually have to be raised will not be as much.

“The donations we’ve received so far have been fantastic,” said McGonigal.

“Those who have already been offering support financially have been absolutely outstanding to us.” Plans for relocation and expansion were made possible by the late John Chapin and his family, who donated half of the 65 acres to the 4-H Fairgrounds Fundraising Committee, which, in the agreement, 4-H purchase the other half, said Lisa Johnson, 4-H Fair Association information coordinator.

“John Chapin was a wonderful man who was very community-minded,” said Johnson. “John never asked for, or I believe, wanted any special recoginition for his contribution,” however, she said, the committee is considering several ways in honoring his generosity and community commitment.

“Considering it was more than 10 years ago when John first approached the fair board about donating the land, he, and now his family, has been very patient while we have went through all of the processes Needed to bring this dream of his and ours to fruition,” said Johnson.

Fundraising efforts will aim for all donations, small or large, said McGonigal.

“The great thing about this fundraising project is that anyone can donate, regardless if you’re a big corporation or a small business,” he said. “We’re aiming to secure donations from $50 to $500,000. The great thing about it is that everyone has a chance to put their names on this project. How often can you make a donation that will give you recognition for generations to come?” Goals for the first stage in the building plan include ground work, which involves removing a plowed farming field and a section of trees for a campground, the construction of a multipurpose building and showing arena, and installing electrical and sewer utilities.

“Like Pat Schuster said before, whether we only have port-a-johns on site or everything, we are planning to have our first fair here next year,” said McGonigal.

The 4-H Association is expanding not only is physical location but within its fair programs, as well, said Lisa Johnson, 4-H Fair Association information coordinator. She reported that the fair’s sheep and goat exhibits are up 50 percent from last year.

“We are just getting started on our fundraising campaign and will look to start building as soon as we can,” said Johnson. “It will all happen as soon as we can financially put them there.” Ground work of clearing land for building purposes on the new site will begin next week.