Politics & Government

Rotary Club Agrees to Buy $3,000 Tent for Arnold Farmers' Market

The Farmers' Market will boost sales for other vegetable stores, Arnold grocers say.

Arnold Mayor Ron Counts had $3,000 surprise for councilmen during the last city council meeting at City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., in March.

The Rotary Club agreed to buy the 20-foot-by-20-foot community tent that, likely, will be unveiled when the Arnold Farmers' Market opens for the first season of business, on May 5, Counts said.

The tent will be used at Arnold Days and other city sponsored events, Counts said after Ward 4 Councilman Ken Moss asked the tent's use.

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"Our end goal is for this to be self-sustaining," he said about the Farmers' Market.

Since the market is a new program to help small farmers and businesses in and around Arnold, it will need some seed money, Counts said.

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The Rotary Club will also search for sponsors for the market, Counts said.

City Administrator Matt Unrein said the city will provide some money from the economic development reserve fund to launch the market.

Previous councils created and used the fund to demolish commercial buildings for new business development, Unrein said.

"The fund will be a bit of a business incubator to help businessmen and farmers sell vegetables in Arnold," he said.

Ward 3 Councilman Phil Amato, who has voiced some hesitation about the farmers market, said he supports funding the venture.

"I believe that the mayor is going to be successful in gathering support and sponsors for the market," Amato said.

"But there's timeline, seed money is needed and we need to accomplish a few things or we will miss the selling season," Amato said.

Paul Freese, who is also a Ward 3 Councilman, said that the owner of the , at 806 Jeffco Blvd., supports the market.

"I talked (with the owner) and he's excited because it will increase his awareness of his business," Freese said.

The farmers' market will open across from Orlando Family Produce on the Fox C-6 School Campus.


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