Transaction Description:
THE LEXINGTON FARMERS MARKET (LFM), AN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE BASED IN LEXINGTON, KY AND FOUNDED IN 1975, SERVES AS A CRUCIAL ANCHOR TO KENTUCKYS LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM, PROVIDING FIVE REGULAR MARKETS TO THE LEXINGTON COMMUNITY, A RANGE OF FOOD ACCESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, AND A LONGSTANDING TOUCHPOINT FOR FOOD BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND HEALTHCARE POLICY INITIATIVES. THE MARKET SERVES OVER 65 KENTUCKY FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS, REPRESENTING 34 COUNTIES.OUR FMPP PROJECT ALLOWS THE MARKET TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE CAPACITYBUILDING PLAN TO PROVIDE STABILITY FOR MARKET OPERATIONS, SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THE MARKET, AND OFFER A FOCUSED FRAMEWORK FOR GATHERING AND INCORPORATING COMMUNITY INPUT AS OUR MEMBERSHIP, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND STAFF DETERMINE THE MARKETS NEXT STEPS AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. THE PROJECT INCLUDES: STRATEGIC PLANNING, IMPROVEMENTS TO MARKET OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, INCREASED STAFFING, DATA COLLECTION FOCUSED ON ACCESSIBILITY AND NEEDS OF CUSTOMER COMMUNITY, SUPPORT FOR VENDOR RECRUITMENT AND IMPROVED SERVICES TO CURRENT MEMBERS, MARKETING AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN COLLABORATION WITH NEW AND EXISTING PARTNERS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR NEW AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS.FMPP SUPPORT WILL ALLOW THE MARKET TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF CURRENT MARKETS, BUILD CAPACITY AND PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, IMPROVE MARKETING, COLLECT DATA AND BE RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY AND VENDOR FEEDBACK, AND PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT TO PRODUCERS THROUGH MARKET ADMINISTRATION AND STAFFING, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, AND STRATEGIC PLANNING.
