The County Press

Imlay City DDA seeks new Farmers Market boss


IMLAY CITY – The Imlay City Downtown Development Authority is looking for a new Farmers Market boss.

DDA Director Dana Walker said she’s currently on the hunt for an area resident (or two) to fill vacancies in the positions of Farmers Market Manager and Summer Event Coordinator. Last year, both positions were held by one person, but Walker said that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. “It can be two different people,” she said. “If someone’s more interested in one over the other it can be separate, or it could be combined.”

Both positions are paid and require a summer long commitment. The Farmers Market Manager position would require a person to maintain the current market, scheduled to begin May 16 and take place every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Oct. 17.

Walker said vendor applications are currently being accepted and special event days are already being planned, including a Kid’s Day, cooking demos and live music. “A lot of it is already started,” she said. “(Being a vendor) is a great way for someone to test the local market, we’ve had success with that in the past.”

Walker said she’s expecting the new time for the market this year, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to be a hit with area residents. “We’re excited to be able to capture the lunch crowd,” she said. The Farmers Market Manager, she said, will be required to help organize and monitor the market, promote special market events on social media and report food assistance totals weekly to the state government.

Walker’s also on the search for a new Summer Event Coordinator, a position that carries the primary responsibility of organizing the DDA’s Summer Concert Series. Several performers for this summer’s slate of music are already locked in, said Walker, including many returning favorites. The Summer Concert Series begins June 18 and runs each Tuesday from 5:30-8:30 p.m. until Aug. 20. A Summer Event Coordinator will be responsible for helping set up and maintain events throughout the season as well as promote each event on social media.

Applications can be downloaded via the Imlay City DDA’s website at icdda.com or can be picked up from the Imlay City City Office.

Nicholas Pugliese