The Central New York Regional Market is trying to court support for an ambitious $90 million revitalization plan that aims to modernize the aging facility. Key state lawmakers say they support the market, but aren’t sure where the money will come from.
Senator Rachel May sits on the agriculture committee and chairs the commission on rural resources, so she has a keen interest in the success of the market, farmers, and vendors. While the democrat acknowledges the need for major renovations, a funding mechanism isn’t clear.
“We've seen several different proposals for what they're trying to do, and I think there's a lot of creativity there," May said during a recent tour of the market's facilities. "Figuring out where the money is going to come from and how much it's going to cost and what's the what, the timetable is something we're going to have to get in the weeds about.”
The market is operated as an authority, similar to the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority. A look at the regional market’s roughly $2 million annual budgetshows nearly all of its revenue is generated by vendor fees. There are no municipal, state, or federal subsidies or grants, and very little funding is set aside for capital improvements. Market director Amanda Vitale says some work was done through grants in the 1990’s. Otherwise, much of the facility and its infrastructure dates back to the late 1930's.
“Since then we haven't had any public investment into the facility and with a very limited budget, we've had a really hard time really keeping up with the deterioration that occurs with the facility.”
Assemblymember John Lemondes is a farmer and market vendor. The republican serves on the agriculture and business development committees, and says the state has misplaced priorities.
“We allocate funding to a lot of things that I completely disagree with," Lemondes said. "Our state budget is growing immensely in the wrong direction and we let things like this iconic aspects of our food security languish In the process.”
Lemondes says this is where agricultural education would help illustrate the value of a local food supply.
“Where it comes from, how it's how it's grown, how it's delivered," Lemondes said. "They think it comes from the store. It doesn't. There's a whole supply chain that provides that and it starts in our state 95 percent of everything produced. Comes from a family farm.
Senator May says the market is an important economic engine that can serve many roles.
“Making sure my colleagues understand how important this is as not just a resource for farmers because it's a distribution center, but for example, the way the school districts are using it to get fresh food to schools," May said. "Making sure people understand that the potential is here for this to really be a way to address some of the food deserts in our area.”
The regional market serves seven counties, and draws vendors from two dozen more. Produce even comes from five states and sometimes Canada. May says there needs to be more local support.
"If there are seven counties that are really benefiting from this, we need not just the state, but the counties to be to have some buy into it as well," May said. "So yes, I think there needs to be some kind of a sustainability plan for it. But I don't think it should just be come to the state on a regular basis and have us bail you out."
Meanwhile, the market’s projected budget appears to anticipate little change into 2026. Slowly rising vendor rents are the only significant source of increasing revenue, but those gains are offset by climbing salaries and operating expenses. There are zeros for the four grant and subsidy budget lines.
It’ll be up to market officials, as well as state and local lawmakers, to work together to ensure the facilities will ultimately match the affection many have for the historic market and all it provides for the region.
