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Economic Development Retail Sales Tax Board 6801 Delmar Boulevard * University City, Missouri 63130 * 314-505-8500 * Fax: 314-862-3168 QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT Project Number: 6040Quarter: Third, January 1-March 31, 2016 Applicant: Submittal Date: Name of Person Completing Report: April 27, 2017Deborah Henderson Midwest Association of Farmers Markets Project Title: : Midtown Farmers Market Marketing, Programs and Events Activity Progress Narrative: WHAT SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WERE COMPLETED THIS QUARTER: The third quarter falls during the first part of the year when we focus on the farmers market schedule and set-up for the whole season. We apply for grants; pursue sponsorships; confirm and recruit market farmers and vendors; negotiate facility agreements; update applications and information forms; renew permits, licenses, insurance and contracts; attend community and municipal meetings; This is also the time period when we complete spring cleaning; make tent and other equipment repairs; and take inventory and restock supplies. In cooperation with the property owner, we help make repairs and upgrades on the market facility. PLEASE DESCRIBE MILESTONES (PER YOUR APPLICATION) ACHIEVED DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD: During this reporting period, we held one Spring Farmers Market in March. For the 2017 Market Season, we are pleased to report that we have already received a Program Grant from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Relevant to the fulfillment of the grant for the expansion of MAT-Pro, our Market Assistant Training Program, is the purchase of equipment and making permanent improvements to the facility. We have secured a corporate sponsor for MAT-Pro. They are going to donate equipment and training to the University City High School Students who work at the Market. We look forward to providing detailed updates about MAT-Pro developments as the season progresses. We expect to employ 3-4 high school students this year. This year we are also working with the local organization, Health Protection & Education Services to provide access to farm fresh products to clients enrolled in their Passport to Wellness Hea community partner for their program through a grant offered by the Missouri Foundation of Health. Along similar lines of increasing access to farm fresh foods to all residents in University City, we are now certified by the USDA to accept SNAP. We are on a wait list for equipment and as soon as that is secured, we will begin offering SNAP/EBT services at the farmers market. A sister program to SNAP is the Double Up Food Bucks program; which literally doubles the purchase amount for fruits and vegetables from farmers for the participants. We are also included in a grant through the Missouri Foundation for Health and the Fair Food Network to pay staff to administer the program. These programs have excellent track records of improving the economic viability of producer-only farmers markets. If the market grows its customer base, it can attract more start-up vendors and it increases the possibilities for those small food entrepreneurs and other market vendors to look into opening brick and mortar shops or other business expansions.