(Branson, MO) – Missouri Main Street Connection Inc. (MMSC) presented the Outstanding Economic Impact Project award to Downtown Joplin Alliance (DJA) for their Bunny and Jane Newton Community Kitchen during Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference’s Evening of Excellence Awards Ceremony and Dinner at The Bauer. They were one of 14 communities, individuals, businesses, and organizations from across the state that have completed exemplary work in downtown revitalization.
The Empire Market opened in 2018 as a year-round “City Market” style farmers’ market offering local goods — produce, meat, baked goods, jams, eggs, honey, fine art, artisan goods, and more. DJA initiated development of the Bunny and Jane Newton Community Kitchen as a shared use commercial kitchen inside the Empire Market to grow the capacity of the
Empire Market. This project has furthered its mission of “Building Community Through Food” in an area that would otherwise be a food desert, with limited access to fresh, nutritious food. In 2023, the $350,000 commercial community kitchen facility was completed which brought a shared kitchen to Downtown Joplin that allowed current vendors and small business owners to work in a kitchen that met the health department requirements of their goods. The addition of the shared use commercial kitchen has economic and community impacts for Downtown Joplin including:
- Farmers expanded their crops output with space to preserve, freeze, dehydrate, and otherwise create value-added products like salsa, jams, and spice mixes to generate additional revenue.
- Startup chefs and existing vendors creating a wide range of food options for market days in a test kitchen. Food-centric entrepreneurs using the space as a restaurant incubator that eventually grows their enterprise into a brick and mortar in Downtown Joplin.
- Individuals of all ages and economic backgrounds gain access to a variety of programming including educational classes on food prep and cooking. Additionally, the free kids’ meal program doubled allowing the kitchen to serve more than 4,000 free kids’ meals in 2023.
- Community members and visitors can enjoy ready-to-eat hot food items, a café area, and live music as they browse the vendors’ goods. Weekly attendance at the market is up 20% over the previous year’s attendance. Vendor sales are trending up 30%.
The DJA Empire Market’s Bunny and Jane Newton Community Kitchen received the Outstanding Economic Impact Project award for their tremendous positive impact on Downtown Joplin’s community. The organization’s efforts to help alleviate food insecurity, provide warm meals for children, and help growers enhance their revenue are worthy of this award.
About Downtown Joplin Alliance:
Downtown Joplin Alliance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the downtown community as a thriving, safe and attractive center of art, history, enterprise, commerce, culture, residence and entertainment. Downtown Joplin is host to many monthly, seasonal, and annual events designed to encourage community involvement and stimulate the local economy.
About Missouri Main Street Connection:
Missouri Main Street Connection is a statewide program currently providing services and training to over 130 communities across the state. MMSC offers education and mentoring in downtown revitalization strategies using the Main Street Approach™ as developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The approach is a comprehensive methodology addressing all components of revitalization including organization, design, economic vitality, and promotions, all within the context of historic preservation.
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