Community Foundation seeks RDC help to cover site remediation for farmers market incubator kitchen

The Logansport Community Foundation on Thursday asked the Redevelopment Commission to help cover remediation and foundation costs at the Fourth and Market farmers market site so a pavilion and a six-station incubator kitchen funded largely by an Eli Lilly Foundation grant can proceed.

The foundation’s construction manager, Matt Lewellen of Steinberg Construction, told commissioners that geotechnical work found roughly 5 feet of poor backfill—brick and organic material—beneath the asphalt. “We have to go down with helical piers down to the limestone bed below,” Lewellen said, and he estimated site development, remediation and helical piers at “$270,000.”

Diana Crispin, president of the Community Foundation, and Vicky Bird, who assisted with the grant application, said the project already has a $5 million Lilly grant but that $4 million of that award is restricted to construction; other remediation and infrastructure costs were not fully covered in earlier budgets. “With the electrical infrastructure, which is my understanding … we’re pushing closer to $350,000,” Lewellen said, and asked the RDC to consider up to $300,000 to cover the redevelopment cost and remove an obstacle to the project.

Why it matters: the pavilion and incubator kitchen are intended as a regional economic-development anchor, not only a farmers market. The kitchen’s planned operator, a chef who has successfully run a similar incubator in Grand Rapids, would provide mentoring, training and business-development services for food entrepreneurs. The presenters said the facility could launch businesses that create jobs in the region.

Commission discussion focused on whether the RDC’s discretionary or redevelopment funds can be used for infrastructure tied to a nonprofit-led project and whether the requested amount is eligible. Bill Cuppy and other commissioners noted state accounting constraints and past RDC practice: the commission funds infrastructure that spurs taxable development but must avoid using tax-generated RDC funds for private personal-property projects.

No formal vote was taken at the meeting. The Community Foundation asked for a June resolution if the commission is willing to proceed with a contribution; presenters said they will continue securing other pieces of the budget and that the remediation estimate is a defined, lump-sum scope because the site will require helical piers to reach limestone.

Ending: presenters asked commissioners for a June resolution so the application and matching commitments can be shown to other funders. The Community Foundation said the remediation commitment would make the larger Lilly-funded project viable and reduce the need to solicit additional local pledges for equipment and programing.