Sens. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and John Fetterman, D-Pa., announced Friday that a coalition of Pennsylvania business and agriculture organizations will fund and organize the state's participation in the Great American State Fair on the National Mall after Gov. Josh Shapiro indicated the commonwealth would not officially take part.

The bipartisan effort will establish a Pennsylvania pavilion highlighting the state's history, agriculture and business community during the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. McCormick and Fetterman said the initiative will be funded entirely through private partnerships and will not use taxpayer dollars.

The senators said they worked with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and several statewide organizations to organize the effort.

"Pennsylvania is where America's story began, and there was no way we were going to let the Commonwealth go unrepresented during our Nation's 250th birthday celebration," McCormick said in a statement.

Fetterman said Pennsylvania should have a presence at the event despite the state's decision not to participate officially.

"We discovered our Commonwealth wasn't participating in the Great American State Fair on the National Mall and we should be," Fetterman said. "We are now making sure Pennsylvania's booth will highlight the Commonwealth's agriculture dominance, our businesses, and what makes PA a truly awesome and historic place."

The coalition includes the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, PennAg Industries Association, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association and The Manufacturer & Business Association.

Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said the organization will help lead the pavilion, while representatives from agriculture, manufacturing and small-business groups said their industries also will be showcased.

The announcement comes after Pennsylvania joined several other states in declining official participation in the Great American State Fair, an event organized by Freedom 250 as part of the nation's semiquincentennial celebration. Critics have argued the fair has become overly politicized, prompting several states and performers to withdraw, while organizers maintain it is intended to celebrate America's history and heritage.