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Nonprofit seeks city support for downtown Youngstown farmers market
Summary
Thrive Mahoning Valley told the council it received a $10,000 CDBG grant to launch a downtown farmers market and asked for publicity, SNAP access, senior discounts and community partnerships to support local producers.
Vicky Vickers, representing Thrive Mahoning Valley, asked Youngstown City Council on Jan. 7 to help publicize a downtown farmers market that the group is launching with $10,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
"We wanna encourage food access, and we are balancing food access with affordability," Vickers said, noting the organization is pursuing SNAP acceptance and senior discounts at the market. She described partners on the initiative — the Community Foundation’s Healthy Community Partnerships, Gwyn FIT at Youngstown State University, and the Mahoning County and Youngstown Public Library — and said the market will host local farmers, food demos with Mercy Health, children’s activities and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Vickers said she had printed postcards for council members to distribute and asked for help publicizing the market to barbershops and other neighborhood outlets. She also invited contributions for programming and said she had packets of information for council members.
The request received brief follow-up from Councilman Oliver, who asked for additional publicity details; Vickers said she has postcards ready and welcomed local vendors and entertainers to participate.
Next steps: Thrive Mahoning Valley will distribute materials to council members and continue outreach to recruit vendors and sponsors.
