Construction Bids Sought for Development of New Farmers Market Location

The Farmer’s Market may have a new home within a few months.
The county commission Monday night voted to accept bids for the construction of a new farmer’s market on the north side of the Town and Country Shopping Center plaza that the county now owns. It will be developed in the parking lot facing East Bryant Street.
The farmer’s market is currently held each Saturday around the courthouse in which local farmers bring their home grown produce to sell.
The county commission, two years ago, voted to seek a $50,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant from USDA Rural Development to help relocate the Farmer’s Market where a proper structure could be built. The grant has since been approved. The project must be completed within 120 days.
The county is also awaiting word from the state on whether it’s application for a $30,000 agriculture enhancement grant is going to be funded from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for the new farmers market location.
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. “We have done the environmentals and the traffic flow pattern. It would have a bathroom, a wash area, refrigerated area with storage, a display area, tables, and it’s all handicapped accessible.”