During its Oct. 2018 grant cycle, the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission awarded Washington Harbor District Alliance a grant in the amount of $129,843 to support restoration of the former McClellan’s Building as Washington’s Harbor District Market. Since purchasing the building located at 140 W. Main Street in Washington’s Historic District in the fall of 2017, WHDA and its Market Committee have been readying it for occupancy by area farmers, entrepreneurs and artisans. With a spring 2019 opening date planned, Harbor District Market (HDM) will provide vendors with year-round direct sales opportunities to consumers at least five days per week. The Market will offer an array of fresh foods from a variety of local sources including meat, produce and dairy producers in close proximity to the City of Washington.

Harbor District Market will be configured for four anchor vendors and 24 additional flexible stalls creating a multi-purpose space on the Market’s first floor for special events after Market hours. N.C. Tobacco Trust funds will be used to reroof the building as well as focus on interior renovations to accommodate the farmers’ market portion of Harbor District Market including handicapped accessible bathrooms, electrical retrofit of the first Floor and the purchase of flexible market stalls. This is the first grant WHDA has received from the Tobacco Trust and was one of 18 grants totaling $2.6 million the Trust awarded during this year’s grant cycle for initiatives focusing on training people for new careers, stimulating the agricultural economy, helping farmers with innovative ideas, and strengthening the sales of local foods.

“Our Commission strives to fund the very best projects that will benefit farmers and their communities across the state,” said Bill Teague, Chairman of the NCTTFC. “We are very confident that by working with our partners these projects will make a significant impact on North Carolina agriculture.”

The Tobacco Trust Fund grant will be combined with façade grant funds from the City of Washington as well as business and corporate support by Nutrien, Farm Bureau, Furlough Construction, Flatlands Insurance, Sloan Insurance and National Spinning in support of the project. For more information on becoming involved as a business supporter and/or a vendor of the Harbor District Market, contact Meg Howdy at WHDA at 252-947-1487.