Summer Internship at City of Gainesville Laysa Yeh

Division of Parks, Recreations, and Cultural Affairs City of Gainesville Local government agency that provides full range of municipal/community services, neighborhood development, local business development, and recreation and parks services…etc. Division of Parks, Recreations, and Cultural Affairs Established in 1979. Operates the Thomas Center, Bo Diddley Community Plaza, Depot Park, Downtown Festival & Art Show… Coordinates city support services/regulates and promotes events within the City of Gainesville.

The Depot Park Former train station and a wasteland. The City of Gainesville acquired the depot building in 1999, and started 19 years of planning and reconstructing. The vision of the park was to create a contemporary public green space to serve as Gainesville’s “Central Park”. Old Gainesville Depot Reconstruction of the Depot Park The City and the Construction Team

The Depot Park Cont’d The Depot Park was open on August last year. The Depot Park office plans to set up a new farmer’s market on October. Called “The Market @ Depot Park”. Opens every Sunday from 10am – 2pm. Designed to be trendy, and a cross between Indie Flea Market and a traditional farmer’s market.

Organizational Structure of the Depot Park Office Manager -> Assistant -> Administration Support

Internship Objective & My Responsibilities Objective: To assist the Depot Park office to conduct proposals, gauge interests, solicit vendors, organize all legal paper works and registration, and develop any useful guides for the market. Recruiting vendors (writing emails and making phone calls). Creating business proposals on farmer’s market guide and policies. Doing research on Federal Regulations and Farmer’s Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP). Designing posters, logos, and website.

1. Recruiting Vendors Gauge the interests and know the customer base. Problems: How to convince the vendors to sell at a new market? What’s the fair fee the market should charge from the vendors? What’s the market’s growing/promotional plans? What are the potential customers? Findings: New market risks. Day and times of the market might not be the best.

2. Creating Business Proposals Develop market guide, vendor policies, and FAQ. Problems: Duplicate existed rules from other farmer’s markets or make our own market rules? Findings: Hard to have a perfect plan.

3. Researching on Regulations & Federal Nutrition Programs Programs that the market is planning to participate in: SNAP/EBT WIC and Senior FMNP Florida Organic Growers (FOG) – Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) Register the market with USDA Nutrition Programs and Farmers Market Coalition.

4. Designing Creating posters, logos, and website for future use.

Findings & Recommendations Project side Starting a new farmer’s market might not be as difficult as you thought! The market and vendors see things differently. Administration side Should set up their own schedule and prioritize each steps. Should be more organized and effective in communication.

Skills I learned & Challenges I faced… Vendors have different points of view Coordinate my works with others Communication Knowledges/Skills How to start a farmers market Networking Working with a team/Brainstorming Hands-on Approach

THANK YOU!! Any Questions?