The future of a farmer’s market in Elizabethton continues to look bright.
A potential market, along with a handful of other items, was on the agenda during the Carter County Advisory Board (CAB) meeting held Thursday at the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library community room.
CAB member Cheri Tinney provided attendees with a brief update on the process, adding the farmer’s market subcommittee is looking at having their final meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10, to develop a board of directors for the business. Other plans ahead for the endeavor includes having a single representative from the CAB be part of the board of directors, while hoping to have the facility under the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce umbrella.
While the final bit of housekeeping for the farmer’s market gets underway, a tentative timeline to open the market is currently pegged for spring of next year.
After receiving the green light to pursue a market months back, the board sprung into action by forming the subcommittee – handling the tasks of visiting other markets across the region and instituting a pair of online surveys for the general public and for possible vendors.
During the board’s meeting in August, the possible location for the market that earned the most traction was the Walter A. Curtis Memorial Park – nestled beside the Carter County Health Department.
Tinney added the market will be a “beautiful thing” for the community. While producing educational-heavy materials and other items, the facility will look at garnering partners to assist by setting up shop at the market.
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During the portion of the meeting set for highlighting partners of the CAB, attendees heard from Rossanna Aldrich, founder of Recover Appalachia.
The nonprofit organization, based in Erwin, is a faith-based alcohol & drug treatment facility that offers mental health and substance abuse counseling, offering peer-to-peer support services and can serve as a referral source for individuals requiring inpatient rehabilitation or crisis stabilization.
Recover Appalachia is based in Erwin, but services the region. Aldrich added the organization has received support from Carter County. The facility’s thrift store, which was originally based in downtown Erwin, is relocating to 2157 West Elk Ave., near Grindstaff, in Elizabethton. The target opening date is tentatively set for Saturday, Nov. 12.
Visit www.recoverappalachia.org for more information on the organization.
Along with Aldrich, Carter County Proud founder Ed Jordan gave the CAB an update of his group’s effort.
Established nearly a year ago, Carter County Proud has been utilized in the community as an organization helping to address cleanup efforts in the county.
Jordan gave attendees the group’s motto: education, enforcement and disposal of litter in the community and asked for support for the group’s initiative.
Carter County Proud has partnered with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and is seeking affiliation with Keep America Beautiful – an opportunity to help beautify the area with the assistance of grant funding. Needing $4,000 as a one-time fee to receive affiliation, Carter County Proud has secured half from the County Commission and Jordan added he will attend December’s City Council meeting to provide councilmen an update of work in the county.
CAB Vice Chair Thomas Davis commended the efforts of Jordan during the meeting, adding he’s been a key part of other organizations efforts to help address the litter issue in the community, including the recent highway cleanup performed by the Elizabethton Lions Club.
Carter County Proud will host a meeting at Smokehouse BBQ in Elizabethton on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m.
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In other business, the CAB discussed the library’s food policy update and will look at attempting to help with a feeding project for either Christmas time or for the new year.