Rossville hosts second summer Farmers Market

Local organizations hoping to draw in business investors with community events

ROSSVILLE, Georgia (WDEF) — Friday night’s scorching weather didn’t stop the Rossville community from enjoying their second farmers market in as many months.

Everything from locally crafted mead to baked goods, flowers and produce were there.

However, behind the shopping, growth was the underlying theme of the evening.

Help local businesses grow and help the word grow all to help the town grow.

BLVD Project Executive Director Heather Herweyer saw more than just a vacant lot off Chickamauga Avenue.

She saw a community gathering place waiting to be utilized.

“We tried to look at how we might bring more energy and excitement to the Tennessee/Georgia state line area right here,” Herweyer said. “One of the biggest responses we got was that people would like to see some type of a farmers market and outdoor events.”

After reaching out to the community for assistance, the Project’s vision is a now reality.

Rossville community markets have opened for residents and area locals.

Herweyer hopes that they can serve as a catalyst for future development in the area.

“We are proud of our community and want to show the rest of Chattanooga that this is a good place to live, work and play,” Herweyer said. “But we recognize we need some better businesses to visit, more places for families to play that are safe and that are a good fit for young children.”

Rossville’s Downtown Development Authority supports the Boulevard Project’s efforts.

Executive Director Tobey Hill says events such as the market as well as potential community development have been “long overdue.”

“It’s very important to have community engagement, to have citizens bought into the community, and that creates interest from investors and business owners
to want to come invest and develop businesses in Rossville,” Hill said.

While the city and Project look to see Rossville grow, local retailers also appreciate the opportunity for their businesses to grow, as well.

“It’s been a very good experience, really,” said Steve Dralle of This Is Better! “The people have been very friendly, they’ve been very helpful and we’ve had a good crowd coming through. To be honest with you, I think we need more of this sort of thing. It’s kind of like old-time Americana. The people are just very nice and I think that we can use a lot more of this.”

Herweyer told me tonight that if even 50 people showed up to the first market in June, it would have been a success.

Times that by seven and you’ll get the 350 people who attended just last month.

Tonight proved to be just as busy and another market will be held at 4 p.m. next month on Friday, August 5.