A grant of more than $174,000 to support the Texarkana, Texas, Farmers' Market will take center stage at Monday's meeting of the City Council.
The council will vote on amending the city's Fiscal Year 2019 budget to account for the grant, recently awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The market, in partnership with the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council and the Housing Authority of Texarkana, Texas, will work to administer the grant to support the market's Cultural Food Diversity Initiative, according to City Hall staff.
The program, set to begin later this year, is focused on the growth and expansion of the Farmers' Market through the use of cultural foods and events, an expanded mobile market and online ordering system and increased advertising for all market activities.
The initiative will be centered on a "Shop Us First" branding campaign designed to establish the market as the first source for fresh local foods and to enhance direct sales of producer-to-consumer market activities.
Texarkana's application was one of 49 funded nationwide and the only project selected for funding in Texas.
The council will also vote on approving Bowie Central Appraisal District's 2018 tax roll and on adopting an official investment policy as required by law.
Other action items include a vote on whether to accept a cash offer for a city-owned house at 3523 Galleria Oaks Drive.
The council will also conduct a public hearing and vote on approving an application for an Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant of $23,250.
The grant is part of a federal program to support law enforcement. The city's portion of the award would be $13,950, to be used to pay for improvements to the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department's mobile command post. The remainder of the grant award would go to the Bowie County Sheriff's Office.
The council will hear a first briefing on rezoning property on East Wallace Drive to allow an automobile-related business there.
City Water Liaison Steve Mayo will give a presentation updating the council on local water issues, and Executive Director Jennifer Strayhorn will provide an update on the Texarkana Public Library.
The agenda includes an open forum during which members of the public may address the council on any topic for up to five minutes each.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd.