Farmers Market Advertising Grants

Dear Farmers’ Market Masters,

Would you like your farmers’ market to get reimbursed for money spent on advertising, displays or promotional materials this year?

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) can assist you with funds still available through the Farmers’ Market Cost-Share Reimbursement Program. This program will reimburse 50 percent of the promotion cost with a cap of $500.

Applications and eligibility requirements can be found on the ISDA Web site. Requests must be emailed to Amy Eizinger, Grants Coordinator at AEizinger@isda.in.gov. Grant requests will be funded through December 15, 2008.

The Avon-Washington Township Farmers’ Market in Hendricks County and the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market in Monroe County took advantage of the Farmers’ Market Cost-Share Reimbursement Program with great success. The Avon-Washington Township Farmers’ Market purchased a banner and advertising in the local paper, the Hendricks County Flyer.

“The Reimbursement Program was really helpful and made advertising a lot easier – it was fun!” said Jessica Compton, recreation coordinator with the Avon-Washington Township Parks Department. “We used our local NPR radio station WFIU to promote our Tuesday Market by underwriting two popular local radio programs, Focus on Flowers and Living on Earth,” said Julie Ramey, community relations manager of the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.

To learn more about their promotional campaigns and see examples of their advertising, visit ISDA’s Web site. ISDA would like to thank the Avon-Washington Farmers’ Market and the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market for sharing their promotion success and ideas.