Plans move forward for Sunday farmers market in downtown Springfield

The board of the Springfield Economic Development Agency voted Nov. 10 to support a Springfield Farmers Market for the next three years. 

The agency entered into an agreement with the Lane County Farmers Market to establish the weekly market in downtown Springfield. 

Plans call for the market to take place on Sundays, approximately June through October, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting next year. Vendors will set up on a city-owned parking lot between A and B streets east of Fifth Street, adjacent to City Hall and the Springfield Public Library. 

Because the farmers market will take place on city-owned property, the City Council will separately review and decide whether to enter into the agreement. 

“A successful market would create economic vitality by bringing shoppers to downtown businesses on a Sunday and increase overall vitality and interest and opportunities to move or build in downtown, as your urban renewal plan states,” said Allie Camp, economic development manager for Springfield, during the board meeting. Voters in Springfield established a Downtown Urban Renewal District in 2008. 

As part of the agreement, the economic development agency will give the Lane County Farmers Market $15,000 for the first year and $10,000 each for years two and three for Springfield Farmers Market operations. Operation costs could include permit fees, utility charges, marketing costs, SNAP customer incentives such as double-up food bucks, employee wages and supplies and materials. 

The funds the economic development agency will be providing come from lease payments and sales for properties owned by the agency, Camp said. 

The agreement calls for the city to provide water, electric and other utilities free of charge the first year, and for $1,500 the following years. Camp said there are some in-kind donations provided as a function of using city space, including access to storage space and weekly waste pickup.

The agreement requires the Lane County Farmers Market to provide an annual report of the Springfield Farmers Market including a summary of season events, number of participating vendors and approximate number of attendees, as well as documentation of costs. 

The Lane County Farmers Market posted on its social media in September that it was exploring the idea of starting a Springfield Farmers Market. The organization asked community members to fill out a survey with preferences of days, times and locations.

“The Eugene Farmers Market has become a regional anchor, increasing access to fresh food, supporting small farms and activating downtown Eugene as a lively gathering place,” Lane County Farmers Market Director Alexis Molinari said in a partnership summary submitted to the city of Springfield. “We believe Springfield is ready for the same transformation.” 

The eight-person economic development agency consists of the Springfield City Council and the Lane County Commissioner for Springfield. 

“This is a great project, in my opinion, and it was one that was active when I was a kid,” board member Alan Stout, a city councilor, said during the meeting. 

Board member Michelle Webber, also a city councilor, was the lone board member who voted against the agreement. 

“The banker in me has a few questions here,” she said during the meeting, expressing concerns about additional costs to the city.