Thrive Allen County knows how it will direct funds from a $23,730 grant it recently received from the Kansas Health Foundation, Wichita.
The Farmers Market, in its third year since revival, and pedestrian safety and education in Iola will be primary beneficiaries.
Signs at key crosswalks, such as those now in place on Madison Avenue in front of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, will receive $7,329. Also, there will be wayfaring signs — they were proposed in the Vision Iola project — to direct Prairie Spirit Trail users to downtown Iola and healthy lifestyles amenities in Riverside Park.
First steps to extend the trail, along the old Santa Fe Railroad right of way, from the Cofachique trailhead to the northeast corner of Riverside Park, were done last week when concrete crossings were poured at the trail intersections with West and Madison streets.
USD 257’s SAFE BASE after-school program will receive support of $6,438. Initially that was to pay for a high-tech enclosed greenhouse to lengthen the growing season and expand the types and volumes of food produced in the Wayne Garrett Children’s Garden. However, that may be shifted to another use depending on SAFE BASE needs and programming direction.
Provisions will be made at the Farmers Market for a booth to sell produce raised by students.
Grant money of $1,983 will pay for an outdoor kitchen that will be used during Farmers Market sessions for healthy cooking demonstrations. Target audience for these demonstrations will be low-income residents who travel to the market by way of Thrive’s free volunteer transportation network, said David Toland, Thrive executive director.
Grant money of $1,200 will be for half of the six-month stipend paid the Farmers Market manager, Jolene Keidel. Another $4,000 will go for administrative salaries within Thrive’s network.
Toland said emphasis would be to promote the Allen County Farmers Market more aggressively and to make certain that the cooking demonstrations “get off the ground.” Volunteers will be asked to help with the weekly cooking programs.
He added that the ultimate goal of the grant-funded project was to directly support implementation of Vision Iola proposals that lean heavily on improvements for pedestrian traffic in and about the downtown area and to “provide a robust Farmers Market.”
