As the King County Fair was preparing to launch its four-day run two weeks ago, good news arrived in the simplest of forms – cash.

The historic fair – which was operated for the first time by a local, nonprofit group – received a financial shot in the arm from King County. An agreement was announced that the county will contribute $50,000 to help fund the fair. The news was shared by King County Councilman Reagan Dunn and King County Executive Dow Constantine.

The funds, which will be funneled through the city of Enumclaw and distributed during the next two years, aim to strengthen fair operations and help to ensure the continued success of the long standing summer event. The King County Fair first greeted guests in 1862, making it the oldest fair west of the Mississippi River.

Dunn, whose district includes the Enumclaw area, expressed appreciation for all the fair represents.

“Besides providing great entertainment, the King County Fair plays a vital role in preserving King County’s agricultural roots, which is especially important as we as a region work to increase the amount of food produced locally,” Dunn said.

Dunn wasn’t the only elected official weighing in on the financial contribution.

“By supporting 4-H and its youth education programs at the fair, we celebrate our rich agricultural heritage and 152 years of the County Fair,” Constantine said. He termed the Enumclaw event a “treasured summertime tradition for families.”

Enumclaw Mayor Liz Reynolds was appreciative of the county’s cash disbursement, as was Richard Corella, who heads the nonprofit Enumclaw Expo and Events Association.

“Your continued support of the King County Fair is a wonderful collaboration that will assist in reenergizing the longest running fair west of the Mississippi…and keep a slice of history alive and strengthen the economy in our rural communities,” Reynolds said.

The King County Fair sports an up-and-down history, particularly in recent years. After many decades of success, the county continually whittled its financial support, most notably with the onset of the recession. Finally, in 2009, operations were handed over to the city. That eventually led to an arrangement with a Tennessee-based company that operated the fair for several years.

With the coming of 2015, the city handed operations of the Expo Center to the nonprofit Enumclaw Expo and Events Association, which opted to run this year’s fair, which wrapped up Sunday.

The $50,000 in funding is in addition to the $10,000 in funding for the fair to assist with costs and operating expenses that was adopted as part of the county’s 2015-16 biennial budget.