Broad Street Market and Harrisburg officials accepted a check from the William Penn Social Association.
The Broad Street Market received a financial boost on Thursday from a local organization.
At a press conference, the William Penn Social Association awarded the market with a $30,000 donation that will support day-to-day operations and help fill a budget deficit.
“We’re neighbors, and all of our members love coming here,” said Brittany Brock, the association’s treasurer. “We are happy that we are able to make this contribution.”
Brock said that, every year, the association donates a portion of its proceeds from small games of chance and, this year, they decided to give all the money to the market.
According to Broad Street Market Alliance board chair Bryan Davis, the money will help fill the market’s current operational deficit, which has been an issue since the July fire in the brick market building.
Earlier this month, market management shared that revenue has been down by 70% since the fire, which closed the brick building, and that they are currently losing around $10,000 each month.
“This helps us get some stability, but doesn’t eliminate the need,” Davis said.
To close the revenue gap, the board approved raising stone building vendors’ rents by almost double, but shortly after decided to put a pause on that plan after vendors and the community pushed back.
Davis said that the board will likely revisit and discuss that plan again at their upcoming meeting on Jan. 31.
Additionally, the board is exploring alternative ways to save money and raise funding, Davis said.
Recently, they decided to temporarily cut funding for things like marketing and special events, Davis said. The city has also deferred the market’s trash and snow removal bills for the time being, and Davis hopes that utility providers will also do the same.
Additional grants and possible fundraisers would help, as well, and the board is looking into those opportunities, he said. Just last weekend, the market held a pie bake-off event and raised $1,500. Now with Thursday’s donation, Davis is hopeful.
“That money will go a long way in getting us through a really difficult time until the tent opens, then we start generating more revenue,” Davis said.
Harrisburg is constructing a temporary tent-like structure to house displaced brick-building vendors adjacent to the market. However, its opening has been continually delayed as the city struggles to find eligible contractors. Early this month, Harrisburg announced that it received a bid for electrical work. Bids for plumbing work are due Jan. 25.
Also on Thursday, the market’s Executive Director Tanis Monroy told TheBurg that he would resign from his position at the end of February. Monroy said that he is suffering from several serious medical conditions and needs to focus on his health.
Davis said that the market will soon begin the search for a new director and that he is confident that the market will continue normal operations in the meantime.
For updates on the Broad Street Market, visit the city’s website.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
