The Rochester Public Market – September Update
Dear friends,
Fall is here. The weather has changed. Red Wings season is over. And the Public Market is full of apples! On this last day of September, I want to take a moment to give an update on a project I’ve been working on for a while and how it is starting to bear fruit.
Investing in the Public Market has always been a priority of mine as a Councilmember. The market is a lifeline for many people who struggle to afford healthy food. It’s also one of the most inclusive spaces in Rochester, as people from all walks of life gather there on Saturday mornings (Tuesdays and Thursdays too!). To keep the market vibrant, we need to be strategic about improving its infrastructure and preparing for the future.
In July, I led a small delegation from Rochester to visit Detroit’s Eastern Market, one of the few public markets in the nation that is as effective as ours. It is run by a non-profit organization that spun off from the City of Detroit when it experienced financial turmoil in the early 2000s. We met with the Market’s leaders and the Mayor’s office of Economic Development to understand the mechanics of the market and to see if there are any lessons for us to bring back to Rochester.
Eastern Market has a slightly different approach than ours, as they have focused a lot more on developing and supporting brick-and-mortar startup spaces adjacent to the market. They also have the infrastructure to host and support more special events. These are great assets for a public market, and something we’ve been talking about in Rochester for quite some time.
While studying Detroit’s market, I worked with the Evans administration to allocate significant dollars to our Public Market infrastructure. In our September City Council Meeting, we unanimously approved $1M of American Rescue Plan Act dollars to finance the design and architectural services for a new Shed C. This is the first step toward enclosing that shed, and adding new restrooms, a demonstration kitchen, and event space.
Additionally, City Council authorized the expanded use of a cloud-based management platform for the Public Market and its vendors. This system not only automates the Market’s vendor billing, payment, and stall assignment, but it also provides market metrics, and can eventually accommodate online ordering from market vendors! To read the full pieces of legislation scroll to page 90 for Introductory 346, and to page 132 for Introductory 356.
Finally, let me encourage you to prepare to vote this fall. In Monroe County, new registration forms should reach the Board of Elections by Tuesday, October 22nd. Early voting begins Saturday, October 26th. The County Board of Elections website contains information on all of the local details you might want to know!
With every season, please know that I am glad to hear your ideas and concerns.In service,
