Beech Tree News Network

After nearly seven years without a Farmer’s Market in Butler County, the Morgantown Downtown Development Committee has announced plans for “Market on Main,” which will kick off Sat. May 28 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

Morgantown City Administrator Jerrod Barks said the idea of bringing a Farmer’s Market to Morgantown has been in the works since late March. 

Barks said after doing extensive research on various Farmer’s Markets, the biggest inspiration came from the city of Corbin, Kentucky. 

“They were highlighted on the White House's website which celebrated the amount of businesses they had attracted with their Farmer's Market,” Barks said. “People in the community could take advantage of the low overhead costs of the Market and test their goods out without investing and risking a fortune to get it out there. Corbin modeled their Market to be a business incubator type program and lowered their downtown vacancy rate by something like 40% in 3 years. We wanted to emulate that.”

Barks said offerings at “Market on Main” will represent the best of the best in Butler County. 

“Attendees can expect a lot of local talent,” Barks said. “ At least that's what we're hoping to have. We're still taking in applications for vendors now so the mix isn't quite set yet. We've talked to artists, woodworkers, bee keepers, nurseries, restaurants, craftsmen, and just about everyone you can think of trying to pull them in to be a part of it.”

Barks said the Downtown Development Committee was dedicated to maintaining a “local feel to the Market.” 

“It's primarily going to be local farmers and growers and some local artists, craftsmen, non-profits and restaurants,” he said. “We will have some other vendors for other products but we are limiting those spots to ensure that it keeps that local flair.”

The kickoff event May 28 will likely be the biggest of the year, Barks said. 

“The subsequent events will be the first and third Thursday of the month for the remainder of the season,” he said. “These regular events will be from 4 pm to 7 pm. We're hoping to catch people before they go home from work, in addition to keeping people in Morgantown after hours.”

“Market on Main” will be located on the Morgantown Bank and Trust Parking Lot, with the first event being in the parking lot, spanning across W. Ohio St and the across the Courthouse Lawn.