A Farmer’s Market is held each Saturday around the courthouse in which local farmers bring their home grown produce to sell.
The county commission last week voted to authorize a grant application to USDA Rural Development, which if approved, would help relocate the Farmer’s Market to property at College and Bryant Street, where a proper structure could be built.
County Mayor Mike Foster says the Farmer’s Market helps bring people downtown on Saturday, which is a good thing, but the farmers who bring their produce to sell need shelter from the weather and the proposed new location could provide that. However, Foster says he would still like to see farmers set up downtown on occasion, even if a new site is developed for them.
Foster read the resolution last Monday night during the county commission meeting. “This is a resolution to authorize the County Mayor to submit an application to USDA Rural Development requesting a Rural Business Enterprise Grant for a Farmer’s Market.”
” Whereas, the Mayor and County Commissioners of DeKalb County believe that the quality of life for the citizens of DeKalb County is very important and, Whereas, the County Mayor and Commissioners feel it is in the best interest of DeKalb County to look to the future and obtain necessary funds to build a new Farmer’s Market and , Whereas, financial assistance is available to DeKalb County from USDA and Rural Development and the Rural Enterprise Grant Program and, Whereas, DeKalb County is eligible for a grant from USDA Rural Development and wishes to submit an application in the amount of $50,000 to Rural Development for a Rural Business Enterprise Grant in order to help finance the project.”
” Now therefore, be it resolved by the County Mayor and County Commissioners of DeKalb County that the County Mayor be authorized to sign and execute all application documents to USDA Rural Development in order to make application for grant funds and submit the same on behalf of the citizens of DeKalb County and to enter into necessary agreements with Rural Development to receive and administer such loan funds and to execute necessary agreements or administrative service without further action by the board contingent upon approval by the funding agencies.”
DeKalb County would be responsible for local matching funds, if the grant were approved, but Foster says some of that could be in-kind. ” That is the thing that makes this attractive is that we can furnish the land and do site preparation and some of those things that go a long way toward counting as our match.”
(Pictured- Jeff Cantrell displays homegrown produce at Saturday’s Farmers Market- click on picture to see larger image)
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