Congressman Richard Neal announced a large federal grant for the Eastern States Exposition on Monday.
The Big E is getting the nine-million-dollar grant from the Small Business Administration as part of the SBA's Shuttered Venue Operators program.
The money will be used to pay salaries and other expenses.
Big E president Gene Cassidy says the grant is a lifeline after the pandemic caused the fair to be canceled last year.
The Big E bounced back with one-and-a-half-million visitors in 2021.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak, WHYN News)