Springfield Agency Funds Weekly Sunday Farmers Market Downtown

The Springfield Economic Development Agency approved a three year deal on Nov. 10 to host a Sunday farmers market in a city parking lot adjacent to City Hall and the Springfield Public Library. The market is planned to run approximately June through October, Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning next year. The agency pledged $15,000 for year one and $10,000 for each of years two and three to cover permitting, utilities, SNAP incentives and double up incentives, marketing, supplies and staffing.

Taken together the agency commitment totals $35,000 over three years. With the market expected to operate roughly five months each year, or about 20 to 22 Sundays, the year one subsidy works out to roughly $600 to $750 per market day in direct support. The city will provide utilities at no cost in the first year. In later years the city plans to charge a modest utilities fee. The agreement requires annual reporting on vendors, attendance and costs, creating a mechanism to track outcomes and judge whether the market meets its stated goals.

City staff and market organizers argue the market will generate economic activity on downtown Sundays, support local producers and create more reasons for residents to visit the area. The inclusion of SNAP incentives and double up style incentives is designed to increase food access for low income households and put more dollars into the hands of local farmers and food vendors. Requiring annual reporting offers a way to measure vendor participation and consumer use of incentive programs, which will be important for assessing the program since the public commitment is limited but ongoing.

Not all board members were persuaded. One member voted against the agreement citing fiscal concerns, highlighting the tension between targeted economic development spending and competing budget priorities. The City Council will separately review the agreement because the market will occupy city property, meaning the program still requires a second approval step before the first market can open.

For Lane County residents the key near term impacts will be increased weekend activity in downtown Springfield and expanded opportunities to buy local food with SNAP benefits. Over the medium term the market will be evaluated on vendor growth, attendance and net economic effect. The reporting requirements create a basis for that evaluation, and the city council review will determine whether the modest public investment becomes a sustained piece of downtown economic strategy.