Jacksonville Public Market Opens

The much anticipated Jacksonville Public Market in Historic Eastside will take over the area north of the sports and entertainment district on December 3, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. offering a unique opportunity to the area. The newest public market to be introduced to the Jacksonville community will showcase family and nutritional programs, live entertainment, food trucks, chef demonstrations, head-line speakers, master gardener talks and youth entrepreneurial activities. The festivities will take place along A. Philip Randolph Boulevard from Albert Street north to Oakley Street.

In the planning stages for more than a year, Groundwork Jacksonville has been working with the City of Jacksonville and other community groups and leaders to create a partnership to bring the public market to Historic Eastside.

According to Ken Covington, Groundwork Jacksonville market manager, the Jacksonville Public Market is a community-designed, small business incubator that leverages empty green space, its existing retail corridor and the vision of the neighborhood residents. “We are excited for the public market to showcase the neighborhood’s history and culture to both long-time Jacksonville residents and visitors to the city’s Sports & Entertainment District.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to visit, shop and enjoy themed villages featuring local produce, meat and seafood, artisan baked goods, fresh foods, plants, arts, crafts, vintage items, youth-led enterprises and various community services. Entertainment will include Julius DJ SHOTGUN Fausto from 10:00 a.m. – noon; reggae band, Browne Dread from noon – 2:00 p.m. and Akia Uwanda & Friends from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Jacksonville Jaguars will also be on site with their street team.

Vendor applications for all areas of the market are currently being accepted. Costs per market range from $10 to $25 for general vendors and $50 to $125 for food trucks and cook-to-order food vendors. View vendor opportunities and how to apply at http://www.jacksonvillepublicmarket.com/vendor-registration/ or contact Ken Covington, market manager, at JaxPublicMarket@gmail.com.

Funding for the market comes from a variety of sources including grants, sponsorships, vendor fees and concessions. The City of Jacksonville, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) – Jacksonville, and several other local leading organizations and Eastside businesses, such as Wells Fargo, EverBank and Azar Sausage are teaming with Groundwork Jacksonville to make the market possible.

"In 2013, Eastside residents created a Quality of Life Plan for their neighborhood. Part of that plan included introducing the broader community to East Jacksonville through destination events like this market. We are very excited to help them realize their dream,” said Janet Owens, Executive Director of LISC – Jacksonville, one of the market’s leading supporters.

Various sponsorship opportunities are still available from $175 to $15,000. Volunteer opportunities are also available. For more information, go to JacksonvillePublicMarket.com.

About Groundwork Jacksonville
Groundwork Jacksonville is the city’s primary non-profit organization specifically created to clean and re-develop Hogans Creek and convert contaminated land into parks, playgrounds, trails, and other public greenspace. Groundwork Jacksonville, Inc. is a partnership between the City of Jacksonville, the US National Park Service, the US Environmental Protection Agency and Groundwork USA. Groundwork Jacksonville is one of 22 Trusts across the country, the only Trust in Florida and the first in the southeast, United States.

Groundwork Jacksonville’s 10-year vision is one where the Emerald Necklace is a nationally recognized centerpiece attracting people to Jacksonville. It connects urban core neighborhoods that are valued as vital and desirable places to live, work, and visit. Jacksonville’s urban core neighborhoods are economically di-verse and economically healthy. Urban core neighborhoods have a community ethic of active living and an outdoor orientation. Working together, neighbors are engaged in creating and sustaining their clean environment.