By Cory Gunderson —
Menomonie’s downtown will certainly look “greener” in the next few years, since Menomonie Market Food Co-op will receive a grant to help fund their new building. A state grant of $500,000 will be given to Menomonie from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The city will give the grant to the Menomonie Market to help fund their ambitious $4 million project. The city will also provide $386,000 of funding to the project. The 13,000 square-foot facility will be located at 808 Main Street East. The grant will help Menomonie’s long-term renovation efforts.
In return, the Market Food Co-op will not receive special Tax Incremental Financing credits. The taxes paid by the co-op will be used to fund improvements to Eighth Street and the construction of a farmer’s market pavilion across the street from Wilson Park. This includes a sidewalk improvement, widening Eighth Street and increasing parking spaces in the surrounding area. The WEDC has provided more than $5.8 million in grants to 39 communities since its inception in 2013.
The grant provides long-term growth to Menomonie and the local community as the co-op’s primary owners are members of the community. The market’s new location will include a community classroom, expanded product lines, larger produce and meat for local vendors and a food service deli.
The grant will help reduce some of the capital investment otherwise placed on the member-owners. This will help ensure that quality, schedule and planning will remain on track and improve the downtown area of Menomonie. Menomonie Market is an important factor in the redevelopment and continued economic growth plan for downtown Menomonie.