By LINDA McGURK
Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Farmers’ markets in need of money for advertising and promotion could get a helping hand from a cost-share program created last year by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). The program will reimburse up to 50 percent of a market’s advertising expenses, up to a total of $500 per market.

“Farmers’ markets are a growing trend in the state,” said Amy Eizinger-Ott, ISDA grants coordinator. “Consumers want to buy local and they want to know where their food comes from. These are niche markets and we’d like to assist them in any way we can.”
ISDA has set aside a total of $10,000 for the cost-share program, which was established using funds from USDA’s Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004. According to ISDA’s website, the purpose of the grant is “to increase consumer awareness and overall appeal of purchasing fresh and local produce at Indiana farmers’ markets.”

Established as well as new farmers’ markets can apply for the grant, provided that they are listed on ISDA’s website and have incurred expenses for promotional activities after January 1, 2009. Markets that currently aren’t listed can get added to the master list by e-mailing Jennifer Dennis at Purdue University: jhdennis@purdue.edu

Eligible applicants also need to fill out a budget form and a new vendor form, and return them to Eizinger-Ott in electronic form. More information about the application process is available at ISDA’s website: www.in.gov/isda/2342.htm

The deadline to apply is June 15 and the funds will be allotted on a first come first serve basis. “There are still plenty of funds available. We hope to get it all distributed,”
Eizinger-Ott said. “The grant has been very helpful to the farmers’ markets, especially since a lot of them are smaller and don’t have a lot of funds available.”