DETROIT (WWJ) — Eastern Market is launching a multi-million dollar fundraising campaign to make improvements and expand its operations as a regional food district that locals can rely on for healthy food.
Eastern Market officials announced the campaign Wednesday evening, just days after two people were shot and killed Sunday in the tailgating area following the Lions’ loss to the Buccaneers. Prosecutors on Wednesday said no charges would be filed, as the shooter acted in self defense.
With a goal of $15.5 million, the “Authentic Eastern Market” campaign is looking to raise funds for a number of improvements to the area, including building a Shed 7 that would be home to a regional wholesale distribution center. The new shed, located on Russell at the north end of the district near Mack Avenue, would feature cold storage and increase access to buyers for Detroit growers, specifically farms owned by people of color, according to the campaign’s website.
It would be the first new shed to be built in more than 40 years.
Other projects include a newly renovated, two-story Shed 4, a new meat processing accelerator, stormwater management improvements, security upgrades and more. The renovations to Shed 4 would include climate control that allow the open-air shed to be open year-round.
It’s all part of a campaign officials say will “strengthen the regional food economy, maintain racial equity by preserving affordable business spaces, maintain the district’s character, enhance the market's infrastructure for vendors and visitors, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization.”
Eastern Market, one of the oldest public markets in the country, has been a staple for Detroiters for more than 130 years. Eastern Market President Katy Trudeau says the organization’s mission extends beyond shopping and that’s what the campaign is looking to help preserve.
“Eastern Market is an anchor of Detroit’s economy, a platform for local entrepreneurs and a catalyst for regional food systems. The ‘Authentic Eastern Market’ campaign allows us to expand our reach, support small business owners and ensure the market's legacy for generations to come,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau told WWJ’s Luke Sloan the effort has been underway for about a year and a half prior to launching publicly this week. She said so far, thanks to key philanthropic donors, they’ve already raised $9 million towards their $15.5 million goal.
“We’re pretty optimistic with this announcement and the call to action to folks in the community that we’ll reach that goal,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau said one of the pillars to the campaign is enhancing the market district as a whole, including improving safety and security in the area. She said there is funding in the campaign for operational support that “inevitably is always gonna go towards us working to both hire full-time staff to help keep the campus secure as well as contract with additional private security to make sure that it’s always a safe and welcoming place for everyone.”
Trudeau said it’s been a “sad time” for the Eastern Market staff, vendors and community in the wake of Sunday’s shooting.
“Our hearts and minds go first to the families of the victims. We’ve just been pulling together as a community and figuring out how we move forward to keep this place going as the beautiful community space that it’s always been for residents,” Trudeau said.
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