Sid Public Services Association

THE PEARL MARKET HAS BEEN THE PREMIER DIRECT TO CONSUMER VENUE FOR REGIONALLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS SINCE 1992. AT ITS PEAK IN 2016, THE MARKET DREW 4,000 DAILY SHOPPERS AND HOSTED DOZENS OF MERCHANTS, INCLUDING 15 LOCAL FARMERS.STARTING IN 2018, THE MARKET, OPERATED BY SID PUBLIC SERVICES ASSOCIATION (SPSA), HAS HAD SEVERAL SETBACKS. THIS INCLUDED RENOVATION OF THE ADJACENT STATE OFFICE BUILDING, WHICH CAUSED THE MARKET TO MOVE TWICE, AND THE TWO YEAR COVID PANDEMIC THAT KEPT MOST WORKERS AT HOME. LAST YEAR, THE MARKET DREW A LITTLE MORE THAN 1,000 SHOPPERS AND 8 FARMERS ON A TYPICAL MARKET DAY.BEGINNING IN 2022, NEW FACTORS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO REBUILD THE PEARL MARKET AND ITS VIABILITY FOR PARTICIPATING FARMERS. FIRST, EMPLOYEES ARE RETURNING TO THE OFFICE, AND SECOND, DOWNTOWN S RESIDENTIAL POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW, LIKELY REACHING 15,000 BY 2024.SPSA WANTS TO CONTINUE ITS WORK TO REBUILD THE MARKET TO HELP BOOST THE OVERALL SALES AND NUMBER OF LOCAL FARMERS PARTICIPATING IN THE MARKET.USING KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH FROM ITS PRIOR USDA GRANT EXPERIENCE, SPSA SEEKS 1) TO RE DEPLOY A HIGHLY TARGETED DIGITAL AD AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO RE CONNECT EMPLOYEES AND DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS WITH THE MARKET AND HELP FARMER INCREASE SALES, 2) CONTINUE TO TARGET LOW INCOME LOW ACCESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND 3) RECRUIT EMERGING NEW FARMERS AND RETAIN CURRENT FARMERS BY PROVIDING MARKETING SUPPORT AND TRAINING.

PROMOTING THE PEARL MARKET MOVE TO OHIO

PEARL MARKETING AND EBT OPERATION

NEW WINTER MARKET AND EBT PROJECT

OUTREACH AND INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR EXISTING EBT PROJECT IN A FOOD DESERT