The Charitable Giving Committee of Tyson Foods, Inc. awarded a $50,000 grant to the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce Foundation to assist with the comprehensive renovation of the Main Street Farmers Market.
Incubating Community at the Farmers Market
To market,
To market,
To buy a fat pig.
Home again,
Home again,
Jiggity jig.
The old Mother Goose nursery rhyme was first published in 1805 and reflected a common practice of regular visits to a town market where agricultural products would be bought and sold. Today, the practice continues at our own Main Street Dyersburg Farmers Market, which operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays from June through September.
The Farmers Market facility is owned by the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chamber and is operated by Main Street Dyersburg. In late 2022, the Chamber of Commerce Foundation secured a grant from USDA Rural Development to study our building, with a particular focus on 4 questions: 1) How could we expand the use of the building to better support market vendors and other entrepreneurs; 2) How can we solve safety issues such as uneven floors; 3) How do we improve access into the building for both merchants and shoppers; 4) How can we improve the attractiveness of the facility?
The concepts they developed include myriad ideas such as fully enclosing the building, but with large roll-up glass doors to extend the use of the building to cooler months while maintaining the “open-air” feel and function of the space. They advocate for rebuilding the stage to support concerts, movies and more. Further, they suggest that the stage extends through the wall to the exterior of the building, serving as an amphitheater for outdoor performances in the large grassy lot between the Farmers Market and the River Center building.
Since then, the Chamber – with the cooperation and support of the City of Dyersburg – has been searching for funds to make that vision a reality. So far, we have been awarded a number of grants that will enable us to start construction. Our very first project will be the construction of the stage, serving both the interior of the building, as well as outdoor movies, concerts and more.
But every large project needs a champion. Someone who is first out of the gate, an early visionary willing to step forward and provide that “seed” of early funding that creates credibility and momentum for all of the remaining grants.
That champion was Tyson Foods, led by Plant Manager Stan Welch. The Charitable Giving Committee of Tyson Foods, Inc. awarded a $50,000 grant to the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce Foundation to assist with the comprehensive renovation of the Main Street Farmers Market.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide this investment in Dyersburg, Tennessee, and to assist in improving the lives of our neighbors,” said Tim Grailer, Senior Director of Social Impact, Tyson Foods. “We take seriously the responsibility we have as a community member to help scale the good work being done by our nonprofit partners.”
Stan Welch echoed those sentiments. “The Farmers Market serves so many needs in the community, including those of our own employees. It provides healthy produce in an area designated as a food desert, serves as a community gathering place for Dyersburg and Dyer County, and provides a market for early-stage food entrepreneurs. We’re excited to be part of this very worthwhile project.”
We want to thank Tyson Foods for providing the very first grant for our project. Their support proved essential to attract further funding. In the coming weeks, you’ll be hearing a lot more about our renovation and our many supporting agencies and entities. We hope you are as excited as we are about the coming transformation of the Farmers Market facility. Jiggity jig!
