Ford City Farmers’ Market Opens Next Week

by Jonathan Weaver

As trees and flowers continue to bloom, a new effort to boost economic development in Ford City Borough will also sprout next week.

From 3PM until dusk on 3rd Street every Thursday starting May 28, community leaders encourage residents locally and regionally to stop by the borough’s outdoor farmers’ market – which they hope will eventually encourage business owners and residents looking for a home to rent or buy space in town.

Economic Development Committee council members Jerry Miklos and Gene Banks thanked Councilman Josh Abernathy for the brainstorm – first publicly discussed at the end of January.

“That will be a nice feature for Ford City Borough,” Miklos said.

Abernathy saw the farmers’ market flourish in his own hometown – Snohomish, Washington. The city of less than 10,000 residents live in what many call “the Antique Capital of the Northwest” was a former industrial logging town that has also been plagued with devastating fires, floods and employment layoffs.

Any interested farmers can contact Borough Manager Eden Ratliff at 724-763-3081 at the Borough office or in person at 1000 4th Avenue in Ford City. Any future donations would be used toward advertising.

At last week’s regular council meeting, Miklos said another prominent local resident has joined the economic development team.

Don Mains – a Ford City High graduate and current resident who has assisted communities large and small – has agreed to volunteer his efforts, Miklos said.

“Don has agreed to assist our council Economic Development Committee in an advisory capacity,” Miklos said. “Don has an extensive resume and a very-impressive work history.”

According to the former Ford City website, in the late 1990s, Mains first led efforts for Ford City’s Economic Revitalization with lobbying missions to Washington D.C., Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, using the remaining PPG buildings to attract new employers and create new local jobs.

“Unfortunately, that effort was derailed, and our council Economic Development Committee is hoping that we can get that effort back-on-track,” Miklos said. “We’re very happy that he’s willing to volunteer some of his time.”

Since then, Mains – the former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development in October 2001 under U.S. President George W. Bush - has also assisted with Hurricane Katrina economic recovery in the state of Louisiana and city of New Orleans in December 2006.