The countys decision to chip in $100,000 to the Marmaton Market Food Cooperative is worth well more than dollars, the markets general manager said.
This matching grant goes a long way to helping us reach our goals, Rachel McDonald told the Register. Its like a domino effect. Things can move forward much more quickly now.
Thats because several other funding sources were waiting on the countys decision, McDonald explained.
With the positive response from the county, theyre willing to move forward as well, she said. The food cooperative is becoming something real. Before, it might not have seemed that way for everyone.
The cooperative is using the $100,000 pledge from the county, in the form of a matching grant, to secure other grants and loans in order to purchase Stubs Market in Moran.
In order to ensure the cooperatives success, Marmaton Market must purchase the store (cost: $138,000) plus thousands more to refurbish the store, purchase inventory and have enough working capital to keep the operation on solid financial footing.
Honestly, were probably three-fourths of the way to our goal, McDonald said, with high optimism that other funding sources will materialize.
I know it was a tough decision for the county, McDonald said. It was very much appreciated.
On top of the county funds, the market has received grant funding from the Food Cooperative Institute, Sunflower Foundation and Americorps VISTA program.
MCDONALD envisions a grocery store that specializes in community connections, from working in league with local businesses to offering locally made products from individuals.
The Marmaton Market is owned by the community. We have owners from all over Allen County who are interested in buying locally as much as possible and keeping their dollars in the county, she said.
The market will depend on area farmers markets, for example, for quality produce and other goods.
The Marmaton Market can create and cultivate relationships, she said. Thats something we can do as an autonomous food cooperative. We dont have to kick it back to corporate to make a decision.
Thats something thats cool about being a member of a food cooperative, McDonald continued. You actually have a say in whats in the store. If youre interested in a specific item, we have the ability to try it out.
One such example that has worked well for McDonald at Ozark Natural Foods was a special order system. If, say, a customer wanted a large quantity of a certain product because he only shops once a month, the Marmaton Market would have the ability to make that happen.
