Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace - Place-based Transformation

Region Five Development Commission

Funding Received: 2016
Little Falls, MN
$440,000
Funding Period: 2 years and 11 months
https://www.facebook.com/SproutMN8/
sproutmarketplace@sproutfoodhub

R5DC is supporting an economic development opportunity that utilizes culinary art, functional and nonfunctional art installations and experiences that intend to make Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace in Little Falls a destination as well a reflection of the unique cultural diversity of central Minnesota.

Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace is a newly constructed 20,000 sq ft local food processing facility, cooking demonstration kitchen and indoor winter marketplace for growers and makers, established by a cadre of thinkers over the last 6 years who hosted its grand opening April 1, 2016. Sprout Marketplace offers a unique community engagement setting that creatively engages residents to design projects and intrinsic/social programming at a one-of-a-kind regional space where art/culture/food increase cultural appreciation and offer positive economic impacts.

WHAT WILL THIS EFFORT DELIVER?

Commissioned ART. Project Seed Team members (from Sprout, R5DC, with intentional conversations with Amish, East African, Native American, Latino, Culinary and Youth communities), will continue to meet with culturally diverse communities to prioritize commissioned art that will reside at the Sprout Marketplace to allow for ongoing conversation and appreciation of diverse cultural heritage. 

Art demonstrations. In addition to commissioned art from culturally diverse artist, grant funds will support performing artists and artist demonstrations coordinated for general public on open Marketplace dates.

Multi-cultural culinary art demonstration and cooking classes. Seed team members engage regional culinary artists/chefs to set cooking demonstrations and cooking classes of heritage recipes, alongside community members.

Business classes. Growers and artists will set forth a schedule of learning opportunities, such as succession planning that increase economic prosperity.

Deployment of a variety of art forms selected to address economic development offer mutually beneficial impacts. Artists partner with local growers at Sprout Marketplace to increase economic benefits and livable wages for both. All activities improve our region’s way of doing business, create an improved ecosystem that collectively provides new experiences for residents to financially prosper, and welcome all resident to participate and learn from each other in ways that inspire future initiatives.

LEARN MORE

See below for recent updates, press, and events from this project

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African arts, drumming, dance, and storytelling filled the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace in March 2019. Many community members from Central Minnesota participated in dancing... Read More
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Oct 9, 2019
Students from three different central Minnesota schools will be featured artists at the indoor marketplace set from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at... Read More
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Mar 24, 2019
A culinary cook-off in May pits three central Minnesota chefs against each other in an intense kitchen showdown. This will be the second year Sprout... Read More
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Mar 24, 2019
A culinary cook-off in May pits three central Minnesota chefs against each other in an intense kitchen showdown. Read More
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Chef Jenna from Prairie Bay Grill prepares a special menu to show how tomatoes can be used in a variety of cultural dishes. What's on... Read More
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https://vimeo.com/309397693 Follow Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace in its development through video storytelling, captured by Dying To Film. Highlights from the 2017 and 2018 video... Read More
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https://www.sproutmn.com/blog/a-message-from-faith My name is Faith, you may know me from past Sprout Markets. When I first started Made By Faith I didn’t think it would... Read More
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Uncle Wheat & Eddie 2/20/2019 Uncle Wheat & Eddie, a musical duo made up of Brad Wallace on cajón and Ed Koehler on guitar, performed... Read More
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Feb 17, 2019
Local growers, makers and musicians will make an appearance at the monthly Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace. Read More
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Nov 28, 2018
Asian street food meets Minnesota farmers market at the Sprout Growers and Makers Holiday Market. Culinary artist and promoter of a “plant-centric diet,” Chef Paul... Read More
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Nov 14, 2018
ST. JOSEPH — A new CSA is offering members the chance to eat locally even during harsh Minnesota winters. Just Food Collective , a CSA... Read More
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Nov 8, 2018
LITTLE FALLS—Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace in Little Falls will host its holiday market Nov. 17, opening at 10 a.m. for shopping and live music... Read More
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A Sprout Art Mural designed by julieingleman [at] gmail.com (Julie Ingleman) ​ ​When Region Five Development Commission sent out a request to local artists for... Read More
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Anishinaabe singer/song writer Annie Humphrey talks with Sprout during a writing camp for young women. During the camp, the young women from Inger, Ball Club,... Read More
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The Sprout Mobile Market is a rural-to-rural initiative and grocery store on wheels that seeks to address access, affordability, and usability of locally grown healthy... Read More
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Jul 20, 2018
LITTLE FALLS—With the local food harvest season in full swing, Sprout is providing learning opportunities in partnership with University of Minnesota Extension for those who... Read More
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Jul 15, 2018
LITTLE FALLS—The second annual Summer Harvest Dinner will celebrate the tastes of the season with local farmers as the community is invited to dine alongside... Read More
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Jul 3, 2018
LITTLE FALLS—Crow Wing County 4-H will host a "Party with a Purpose" event 6-8 p.m. July 17 at Sprout in Little Falls. The party will... Read More
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Jul 2, 2018
Many people in Region 5 in Minnesota (Morrison, Todd, Wadena, Crow Wing and Cass counties) live in what the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)... Read More
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Jun 1, 2018
This report demonstrates Sprout MN’s regional impact and staying power as an important and impactful economic engine. Read More
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May 16, 2018
Hundreds watched and cheered as three chefs battled it out to win praises from judges Tuesday, May 15, in a competition styled after the Food... Read More
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May 16, 2018
Hundreds watched and cheered as three chefs battled it out to win praises from judges Tuesday, May 15, in a competition styled after the Food... Read More
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Apr 25, 2018
Tonight, class was full of vegetables. “Fresh herbs, radishes and a lot of those summer squashes,” said Tomas Zimmerman, chef and owner at A.T. The... Read More
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Apr 2, 2018
Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace wants to create a legion of locavores. And no, that's not a type of dinosaur. A locavore is a person... Read More
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Jotham Walsvik, age 12, is a Wadena County 4-H member who has discovered he has a love and skill for working with wood. It is... Read More
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A community art project doesn’t always turn out as the artist originally intended and James learned that last summer while working on a painting with... Read More
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Feb 19, 2018
heryal Lee Hills and Arlene Jones Who We Are: The “WE” is our organizations (R5DC & Sprout) with Sprout and Region Five coordinating the regional... Read More
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Feb 17, 2018
It just wasn't supposed to work, this business model that said you could grow in the rural area and then sell in the rural area... Read More
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Submitted by The Jon Radermacher Family from Little Falls: We decided to make pelmeni, Siberian meat-filled dumplings. When Sarah was a Peace Corps volunteer in... Read More
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Jan 23, 2018
Farmers markets are very popular in central Minnesota, but they are hard to find this time of the year. The non-profit organization Sprout hosts an... Read More
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Jan 23, 2018
Farmers markets are very popular in central Minnesota, but they are hard to find this time of the year. The non-profit organization Sprout hosts an... Read More
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Jan 22, 2018
Sprout’s Growers and Makers Marketplace continues its live music stage Saturday, Jan. 27, with Americana string band, The Song of My People (TSOMP). Food producers,... Read More
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Nov 29, 2017
Sprout's next holiday market will be 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace in Little Falls. Read More
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Oct 30, 2017
Community Spotlight: Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace Read More
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‘Farm-to-table’ as a movement was brought to the forefront in the 1970s by Alice Waters, founder and owner of Chez Panisse Restaurant, among others. Alice’s... Read More
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On a perfect summer night in July, Sprout hosted the inaugural Summer Harvest Dinner at their facility in Little Falls, Minnesota. What follows is my... Read More
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Cocinemos, Let's Cook! was the second of three cooking classes that occurred in the Sprout kitchen over the months of April, May, and June. Maria... Read More
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Oct 6, 2017
WASHINGTON, DC — Region Five Development Commission based in Staples has received a 2017 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for... Read More
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Sep 25, 2017
Sprout is more than a multi-use food facility comprised of a food hub, licensed kitchen, and marketplace. It is also a place for creating memories,... Read More
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SPROUT’S NEXT PARTY WITH A PURPOSE WILL BENEFIT NONPROFIT “HONOR THE EARTH”, REVEAL COMMISSIONED ART INSTALLATION AT SPROUT, AND HOST AUTHOR AND CHEF BETH DOOLEY OCTOBER 2
Sep 24, 2017
LITTLE FALLS, Minn. – September 19, 2017 – The next Party With A Purpose at Sprout will benefit the non-profit organization, Honor the Earth; feature...
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Purple Carrot Market Party with a Purpose at the Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace By Susy Prosapio, Purple Carrot Market Manager I’ve learned that two... Read More
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Aug 22, 2017
LITTLE FALLS—Sprout is looking for folks who live within 100 miles of Sprout, 609 13th Ave. NE, Little Falls, or in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison,... Read More
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Aug 14, 2017
AVON — Austin Maile may be only 16 years old, but he already has a growing fan base. Read More
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src=" https://www.youtube.com/embed/SHQ-MAoYo_w " frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Read More
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Four community organizers from Minnesota, Missouri, and Tennessee came together on April 27, 2017 for this Digital Exchange webinar focused on the power of stories... Read More
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Jun 26, 2017
Sprout is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations as well as small businesses to host a "Party with a Purpose" at the Sprout Marketplace in August... Read More
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Jun 10, 2017
Artists, makers and growers as small business entrepreneurs are invited to attend a free educational workshop to learn business planning basics led by Julie Anderholm... Read More
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May 12, 2017
A new market offering local produce, plants, handmade and homemade goods will take place all summer in Little Falls. The Little Falls Mississippi Market was... Read More
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Apr 21, 2017
Artists and growers as small business entrepreneurs are invited to attend free educational workshops to build their business profitability and capacity. Read More
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Apr 21, 2017
LITTLE FALLS—Artists and growers as small business entrepreneurs are invited to attend free educational workshops to build their business profitability and capacity. The events will... Read More
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Apr 21, 2017
LITTLE FALLS—Sprout installed a video booth and launched a shared meal pottery experience to ignite storytelling through food as part of the organization's placemaking strategy... Read More
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You could say wheat is in my bloodstream. By Ben Penner, Ben Penner Farms In 1874, Mennonites from the Ukraine brought Turkey Red Winter Wheat... Read More
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Mar 20, 2017
LITTLE FALLS—Thinking about buying an electric vehicle but have a few questions? Want to learn more about the cars and charging stations? Attend a free... Read More
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Doughy figure-eights are dropped slowly and subsequently pulled from oil boiling at a perfect roll - the kind of roll that occurs right at 400... Read More
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The intersection of food, art, and culture will again be exhibited at the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace (609 13th Ave NE, Door 8, Little... Read More
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In just one month after receiving the Artplace America grant to transform the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace (609 13th Ave NE, Door 8, Little... Read More
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Feb 17, 2017
In just one month after receiving the Artplace America grant to transform the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace, 609 13th Ave. NE, Door 8, Little... Read More
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I am Doug LaBorde of DLSmithing. I heard about the Sprout market days about the time I was retiring from being a boilermaker and beginning... Read More
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Jan 24, 2017
Rural food insecurity remains one of the most vexing challenges in the United States. In central Minnesota, Region 5 is emerging as a leader in... Read More
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The monthly cultural activities kick off with the first market in two weeks on January 28 where “Youth” (under age 25) of all cultures will... Read More
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Dec 27, 2016
Interview with Dawn Espe and Staci Headley, R5DC Regional Development Planners Read More
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Newsedge: Region Five Development Commission will receive funding from ArtPlace America's 2016 National Creative Placemaking Fund; 29 projects were chosen to receive $11 million in funding
Dec 17, 2016
Region Five Development Commission will receive funding from ArtPlace America's 2016 National Creative Placemaking Fund; 29 projects were chosen to receive $11 million in funding
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Dec 14, 2016
Listen to Ben Penner, Sprout Marketplace vendor, speak about his grains. His interview starts at 19:20. Read More
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Dec 10, 2016
Dawn Espe, Regional Development Planner for Region Five Development Commission in Staples, talks about a grant they have just received for an ambitious community-building project... Read More
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Dec 7, 2016
ArtPlace America announced the Region Five Development Commission is one of 29 projects chosen, from almost 1,400 applications, to receive funding through its National Creative... Read More
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We’ve been thinking about how strategies in rural areas are being (re)framed with culture bearers, growers and makers in mind. The approaches of First People’s...Read more
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In Part 2 of my interview with Lori Pourier of First People’s Fund/Rolling Rez and Cheryal Hills of Regional Five Development Commission/Sprout Growers and Makers...Read more