Farmers Market to hire manager

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Farmers Market is looking to hire a manager for the 2014 season that begins May 1 and lasts through October.

Katie Rohleder, chair person of the Farmers Market Committee for the Rockingham Downtown Corporation, addressed the RDC during the group’s regularly monthly meeting Tuesday at 123 Caroline St. Rohleder said the position would be part-time, a maximum of 15 hours per week. The wage is $15 per hour and no benefits are available with the position.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com Members of the Rockingham Downtown Corporation are looking for ways to attract more people to the area.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Members of the Rockingham Downtown Corporation are looking for ways to attract more people to the area.

Susan Kelly, RDC president, said the position is grant-funded and only a temporary position depending on the success of the manager and the market in general. The farmers market begins this year in May in downtown Rockingham in the parking lot of the R.W. Goodman Company at the corner of West Franklin and West Lee streets.

Kelly said the $10,000 grant will also help pay for signage, marketing and related supplies.

“If you have ideas, now would be the time to chime in,” Kelly told fellow RDC members on how to use the money.

The new market manager would have to start soon, she said, because the market is ready to open.

“We’re going to do it very quickly,” she said of the selection process of a qualified candidate.

The market manager will be employed by the Richmond County Farmers Market Association and is to oversee and support the market with operations, promotional and management assistance. Market hours will be 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday and 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday.

The manager will, among other things:

* Assist farmers and vendors on market day to post signs and prepare the market site
* Collect vendor fees, vendor applications and tax revenue information
* Address vendor and customer complaints about violations of the market’s rules and regulations
* Allocate market space for optimum usage
* Open and close the market, moving tents, tables and other equipment
* Review the budget and maintain records of market expenses, income, EBT sales and vendor tax records.

Rohleder raised the idea of scheduling special activities during market hours to help draw in customers. Events could include youth or adult fitness demonstrations, juggling, music or other possibilities, she said.

Kelly said this falls in line with some of what she learned during a Main Street Conference March 31 and April 1 in New Bern.

“We have three spaces,” Kelly said. “Home, work, then that other space. Let’s make downtown our living room. That’s what I’m hoping Farmers Market will provide. If groups need to get their namem out there, I hope they’ll come to the Farmers Market for that.”

 

 

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