The Fresno County Board of Supervisors once again voted 3-2 to support the National Garlic Festival with federal Covid relief funds.

A split Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday finalized a $225,000 federal Covid recovery grant to benefit the upcoming National Garlic Festival.

Today’s action approves the agreement for $225,000 toward marketing the National Garlic Festival planned for May 13-15 at the Fresno Fairgrounds. Last month, Supervisors earmarked the funding, citing reports the event would create $7.84 million in direct business sales.

Supervisors Buddy Mendes and Brian Pacheco — the lone farmers on the board — once again voted against the agreement, saying they supported the event but felt the amount was too high.

“It’s the magnitude of public sector money,” Pacheco said about why he voted “no.”

Peter De Young, CEO of National Food Festivals, is putting on the event. He shared his vision for garlic festival as being more than just a one-off event. It would promote the county and its position as the center of garlic production for the U.S.

“It’s really a gift to us,” he said. “Something to tell the world about.”

He was joined by a number of supporters — a tourism representative, farmers, mobile food business operators, ValleyPBS CEO Jeff Aiello and more — who said after Covid an event like this is a way for many different kinds of businesses to recover.

De Young said so far around 300 vendors are signed on to participate in the National Garlic Festival.