Flint Farmers’ Market

Established in 1905, the Flint Farmers’ Market has served as a community anchor for over a century, providing residents with access to growers, butchers, bakers and other vendors.

The year-round market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a mission to serve as “a vibrant center of community life that is welcoming to everyone.” With half a million visitors each year and over 50 vendors, the Flint Farmers’ Market is vibrant indeed.

Through its various locations and iterations over the decades, the market has evolved with the times, representing the resilience and heart of the Flint community.

Cornering the Market

The market’s journey to its current home in the former Flint Journal printing plant at 300 E. 1^st Street has been supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the vision of the Uptown Reinvestment Corporation (URC). In 2002, the URC assumed management control of the market from the City of Flint rather than see it shut down for good. Under this new ownership, the market expanded to provide new offerings to a widening customer base.

In 2014, the market returned to Flint’s downtown core, supporting the City of Flint’s Master Plan, Imagine Flint, and its vision for a health and wellness district. The MEDC supported the district project, which included the relocation of the Flint Farmers’ Market, through a Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based equity investment of $5.6 million, spurring an estimated total investment of nearly $31 million. That year, the new Flint Farmers’ Market location saw a 300% increase in both foot traffic and sales – proof in the adage “if you build it, they will come.”

At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the Flint Farmers’ Market team worked swiftly to pivot operations to keep supporting the small business owners and community.

“In about 72 hours, we turned the market from an actual physical space to an online shopping experience,” said market manager Karianne Martus. “We were able to do that because of our team and the amazing people who work in the market. At least half of the businesses were able to continue a semi-viable income during COVID, when everything was closed. I think that’s one of the things I’m very proud of that we were able to do.”

Home-Grown Growth

In the years post-COVID, the URC has explored ways to reactivate space around the Flint Farmers’ Market to continue its bounce back, including upgrades and expansion of its outdoor amenities. The market plans to enclose a portion of the market’s outdoor pavilion, creating a dedicated space for food trucks and entertainment.   

In 2023, the MEDC provided the URC with an $860,759 grant from the Revitalization and Placemaking 2.0 (RAP 2.0) program in support of the market’s expansion. Through RAP 2.0, the MEDC partnered with local communities to support community revitalization needs across Michigan by investing in projects that promote population and tax revenue growth. The Mott Foundation also announced URC would receive a $3.5 million grant for the outdoor enhancements to the market.

“We’re going to enclose a third of the back end of the outdoor stalls to further activate the space,” said Moses Timlin, real estate development manager with URC. “With the enclosure, we can have two vendors operate outside normal market hours so they can be open five days a week. 

We’re hoping to add bar/restaurant and other family-friendly vendors, and we’re excited to continue this project and provide new outdoor amenities, such as a stage, firepit and yard games. The Flint Farmers’ Market is the crown jewel of downtown; we’re thankful for the support from local institutions to make this happen.”

Thanks to the MEDC and its partners, community hubs like the Flint Farmers’ Market will continue to serve and shine for years to come.

“With a market staff of eight and a vendor employee base of over 150, the market is a hub of activity every day. Our market supports small businesses, enriches the food assistance landscape and creates an inviting place for the community to gather and celebrate the on-going revitalization of downtown Flint.  We are very thankful to the MEDC for the role in which they have played in our success."

Learn how the MEDC supports small businesses and community institutions like the Flint Farmers’ Market.