‘Collaborative initiative’: Washougal launches community market pilot program

The city of Washougal is launching a community market pilot program this summer in an effort to spotlight local talent, assist small businesses and energize its downtown core. The limited-run market will debut July 18 at Reflection Plaza and will be open to the public from 2-6 p.m. every Friday through Aug. 29. “This is more than just a market,” said Rose Jewell, the city’s community engagement manager. “It’s a collaborative initiative designed to spark economic activity, explore long-term possibilities and help shape the future of a vibrant town center.” City officials created the program after receiving interest from council members, farmers and artisans, according to Joe Walsh, the city’s community services and strategy director. A citizen committee, as well as Jordan Boldt, who directed a similar market at Reflection Plaza in 2009 and now serves as the executive director of the Vancouver Farmers Market, have helped guide the pilot program. “I think the time is right to reintroduce this idea to the community, and I’m excited to watch it grow,” Boldt said. “As Washougal is continuing to see such growth, I believe it’s important to invest in initiatives like this to foster an increasingly healthy community.” The pilot program will offer a platform for small businesses, artisans, bakers and food vendors to showcase their work and engage with the community, and allow the city to evaluate interest, gather community feedback, and determine the feasibility of establishing a permanent, recurring market, according to a news release. Walsh said the city has heard from at least 20 interested vendors. “I think that’s really promising. It’s a really good sign for the long-term viability of this thing,” Walsh said. The city is accepting vendor applications through June 20 and will make its final selections by June 25, prioritizing merchants from east Clark County. “This is a unique opportunity for residents and business owners alike to help build something lasting,” Jewell said. “We’re excited to see what our community has to offer.” The city is seeking vendors in several categories, including agricultural products; hot, fresh food prepared onsite; prepared food; and artisan goods. Washougal City Councilor David Fritz noted during the council’s May 27 workshop that the city wants the community market to be different from farmers markets in Camas and Vancouver. “We like to do things just a little bit differently,” Fritz said. “We march to the beat of our own drum. We’re calling it a community market, but it has farmers market elements to it. It’ll be a mix of different kinds of vendors, but also certainly give room for local farmers.” Walsh said the market supports the city’s strategic goal of fostering a vibrant town center. The city is currently renovating its town center and hopes to complete that project by the summer of 2026. “Certainly, we’ve got some great big signature events, like our Christmas tree lighting and parade. We’ve got some big races that come through town. We want to keep those but also have more frequent, smaller activities happening, and this, at least for now, fits into that,” Walsh said. “We want to have more and more opportunities, more and more reasons for people to visit downtown, and we want to try to be a catalyst in helping that momentum that we think is already building.” To be considered as a community market vendor, apply at cityofwashougal.us/CommunityMarket. Doug Flanagan: 360-735-4669; doug.flanagan@camaspostrecord.com

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