Pontotoc County Chamber Of Commerce Inc

THE PONTOTOC FARMERS MARKET (PFM) HAS GROWN IN SIZE, POPULARITY AND VISIBILITY PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE ITS COMMUNITY PRESENCE TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS CENTERED AROUND LOCALLY SOURCED MEATS, DAIRY AND PRODUCE. HIGH RATES OF OBESITY, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE AND CANCER PLAGUE THE REGION DESPITE THE ABUNDANCE OF HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCED AND GROWN IN OUR LARGELY RURAL COUNTY. THE PFM SEEKS TO BECOME A SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND EDUCATION REGARDING HEALTH BENEFITS OF LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD. THE PFM HEALTH AND WELLNESS INITIATIVE WILL DEVELOP MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR ITS 29 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND 9 COTTAGE FOOD MAKERS THAT FOCUS ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND THAT STRIVE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS.TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED TO VENDORS ABOUT CREATING HEALTHIER OPTIONS FOR THEIR VALUEADDED PRODUCTS AND CULINARY EDUCATION TO CONSUMERS PROMOTING HEALTHY FOODS AND RECIPES. OUR MARKETING WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED BY THE CREATION OF LIVE FEEDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE USE OF TRADITIONAL PLATFORMS TO PROMOTE LOCAL FOODS ALONG WITH COMMUNITY WELLBEING PROGRAMS, HERITAGE MUSIC AND YOGA ON THE LAWN. THE POPULARITY OF THE PFM WILL BE UTILIZED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES PROVIDING MORE OUTLETS FOR THE SALE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS MAKING HEALTHY FOOD MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY.IF OBJECTIVES ARE FULFILLED, RESULTS WILL BE MEASURED BY A GREATER AWARENESS OF HEALTH BENEFITS OF BUYING LOCAL, INCREASED TRAFFIC AT THE PFM, INCREASED REVENUE GENERATED BY LOCAL PRODUCERS, INCREASE IN PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF LOCAL FOOD, AND INCREASE IN INPUTS INTO THE LOCAL VENDOR BUSINESSES.

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.