PORT HURON, MI — Port Huron officials are exploring plans for a permanent downtown farmers market structure following preliminary conceptual work completed through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Port Huron City Manager James Freed first discussed the project during the May 11 Port Huron City Council meeting, describing it as a long-term vision for the city’s growing farmers market.
“I think the farmers market here has had proof of concept enough,” Freed said during the meeting.
According to Freed, a team of architects and engineers through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is providing conceptual design assistance to the city, Downtown Development Authority and farmers market at no cost.
“That normally is about $100,000 in engineering and design costs they’re going to do for free for us,” Freed said.
Freed later shared preliminary conceptual renderings and site plans with Mayor Anita Ashford and City Council members in a May 23 email.
The conceptual plans show a large open-air market structure near the current downtown market area along Quay Street and Merchant Street.
Freed said the city hopes to use the conceptual plans and renderings to pursue future grant funding opportunities for the project.
“The next step will be to further develop these drawings, so they are detailed enough for cost estimates and bid documents,” Freed wrote in the email. “We will then use those figures and documents to pursue grant funding for this potential project.”
Freed said the structure could eventually serve multiple purposes beyond the weekly farmers market, including festivals and other community events.
“In addition to serving as a farmers market, this structure could also be used as a venue for Blue Water Fest and other events, eliminating the need to rent a large tent,” Freed wrote.
Downtown Development Authority Director Lisa Delong said the project remains in the early planning stages, but local officials have already started exploring funding opportunities.
“We’re excited to be working with the USDA architect who runs a program that donates their expertise to help design a permanent farmers market structure free of charge,” Delong said in a statement to the Times Herald.
Delong said proposals have already been submitted through the Community Foundation along with state and federal grant opportunities.
“We’re hopeful that within the next few years, our community will see a beautiful permanent market structure become a reality,” Delong said.
During the May 11 meeting, Freed said the city’s existing market has become an important community resource, particularly for food access programs.
According to the Michigan Farmers Market Association, Michigan ranks third nationally for SNAP-authorized farmers markets and distributed about $1.6 million through SNAP and related food assistance programs.
Port Huron Farmers Market
Contact reporter Andy Jeffrey at ajeffrey@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Downtown Port Huron could see permanent farmers market pavilion
Reporting by Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
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