The City of Sanford is pleased to announce that the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (NCTTFC) has awarded a grant of $398,019 to help fund the Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace.
The marketplace is a community-supported project aimed at creating economic opportunities for growers and producers in the Sandhills region. It will also serve as a venue for community health and wellness initiatives, highlight Sanford’s agricultural history, and act as a gateway to the future Sanford Central Green.
“The City of Sanford is thankful to the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission for seeing the tremendous value the Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace will bring to our community,” said Mayor Rebecca Salmon. “These funds allow us to preserve Sanford’s rich heritage and create something truly special for the next generation.”
The grant check was presented prior to the November 21, 2024, marketplace groundbreaking ceremony. Anticipated for completion in 2025, the marketplace will be located on the corner of Charlotte Avenue and First Street in Downtown Sanford.
“We are proud to partner with the City of Sanford to add capacity to this farmers market,” said Julian Philpott, a member of the Commission and a Lee County resident, at the groundbreaking. “The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission strives to fund projects that create economic opportunities for farmers across the state.”
The groundbreaking of Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace is the first step in transforming the area into the Sanford Central Green. This innovative community space will connect Downtown and East Sanford to the Sanford Municipal Center on Weatherspoon Street.
This grant is the second allocated by the NCTTFC for the marketplace. Alongside a previous allocation of $214,000, total Commission funding for this vital project now surpasses $600,000. The newest grant will help fund the pavilion where the weekly farmers’ market will be held.
“This critical funding will allow the marketplace’s vendor pavilion to reach its full potential for growers and producers,” remarked Bill Stone, Lee County Director for the N.C. Cooperative Extension. “We are grateful to the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission for their role as an advocate for agriculture and economic development and their continued investment in our community.”
Additional support has come from various public and private partners, including the Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands Trust, the Rural Transformation Grant Fund, the Pilgrim’s Hometown Strong Grant, and the Lee County Farm Bureau.
Follow the progress of the Sanford Agricultural Marketplace on our projects hub.