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Annual Loop Events which we contributed to include The Loop Pet Parade and Halloween Event in October and the Kwanza Market Assistant Training Program (MAT-Pro): - because we were awarded an Urban Ag and Non-Traditional Farming Grant from the Missouri Department of Agriculture for the development of the program in 2017. The value of this Economic Development Grant is $7500. Last year we employed three (3) students from UCHS to work on Saturdays at the farmers market. Two of the students were enrolled in the UCHS Summer Job Program where they also received valuable information in weekly Job Support Classes. We also employed a WU college student and an experienced coffee barista to both work at the market and provide training to our high school market crew. A new addition to our MAT-Pro curriculum this season, were field trips for the students to other farmers markets. There they received instructions from a Ludwig Farmstead Dairy marketing representative on vendor booth set-up, customer service protocols, and the various types of cheeses. We then opened a Ludwig Dairy booth at the market which provided further work experience for the UCHS students. Culinary Demonstrations: After the Chefs Challenge Grand Finale, we again offered on-site cooking demonstrations with sampling utilizing farm fresh produce and other ingredients sourced at market. Market Music Series: We restarted and continued the series of music concerts through the end of the market season. This ast quarter. Live Music Concerts help to create a fun, inviting ambience for patrons. Previous market studies showed that when live music was provided, market-goers stayed longer. This, created opportunities for them, to not only make more purchases at the market, but to stay in The Loop longer. Vendors reported that when there was music their sales increased. press and positive attention within the local music scene; 4. Patrons stay longer in The Loop. PLEASE DESCRIBE MILESTONES (PER YOUR APPLICATION) ACHIEVED DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD: Benefits from the Chefs Cook Real Challenge: We considered this event to be a big success and estimate that it brought 2500-3000 people to the area on October 8. We had visitors from as far away as St. Peters, MO and Edwardsville, Ill. the Chefs were busy making their dishes. The event attendees then came back when the Chefs were ready to sample their creations. the feedback from people in the area was very positive. In-kind sponsors of the event included: Midwest Assoc of Farmers Markets; Local Chefs & Restaurants; Hickey College Culinary Institute; St. Louis Earth Day; Feast Magazine-Midwest; Mo Dept of Agriculture; University City Community Development; MO & Ill Farmers; Ford Hotel Supply; Bertarelli Cutlery; LSBD and Dr Pepper Snapple, Inc Benefits of the Sullivan Farms Christmas Lot: The addition of this business kept people coming to the market, The Loop and also helped bring new people to the area at a time when customer attendance typically goes down. It sparked a different kind of interest in the marketthere had never been a Christmas Tree Lot in The Loop before! It also brightened the facility with all of the evergreens in the lot along with the additional decorations we put up. WU Student Coupons: We offered $5 coupons to Washington University Students during November and December. These proved to be very popular, bringing in new student visitors to the market. At first we were going to offer the promotion only one week, but when we realized how popular it was, we extended the offer through the rest of the season. Surprisingly, most students bought vegetables! Social Media Metric Reports: The results here are promising and this is an area of exposure we want to increase considerably for our market; especially to attract a younger demographic. -34 and 35- Metrics show we have customers from all over the greater St. Louis metropolitan area and from as far away as Ofallon, MO and Edwardsville, IL and even Chicago. They also show very strong support from residents in University City. Constant Contact Metric Reports; The reports here show continued interest from the 45 and over age group as well as an increase in the 25-44 age group. We continue to grow our newsletter clients and have seen an increase of 30% in recipients in the last year.