Transition to CVMA taking place.

The RFMAA recently began the transition to the Central Virginia Market Alliance.

In hopes of cultivating a networking and community development platform, a broad range of programs for both market venues and its entrepreneurs will be offered to our members.

Programs which are currently being created include:

Vendor and Consumer surveys to allow the cultivation of true community based growth. By gathering local feedback and processing it with regional responses, the surveys will allow each market to properly serve its community while using outside ideas to offer a wider range of goods and services of the region.

Advanced Spotlight on venues will offer press for markets, vendors, and their communities. This will reach local individuals through multiple media forms while showcasing randomly selected entrepreneurs of each venue to publicize each markets goods and culture. Also, this is designed to support the community the market serves by giving attention to local community business and history.

Partnership with 501(C)(3) tax exempt organizations to offer tax deductible donation acceptance for monies dedicated to market development and entrepreneur mentoring. At this time, though the CVMA is recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia as not for profit, we are currently not seeking a tax exempt status.

Entrepreneur Workshops will offer free or low cost leadership forums on business advertising, record keeping, tax filing for small businesses, marketing, high yield sales options, community outreach, special event planning, and general safety. These classes will be offered locally under most circumstances as many will be region specific.

Low Cost Insurance options will be available to vendors and markets under an umbrella format. This option will offer (based on availability through carrier) insurance to cover marketplaces holding special events or open markets as well as to individual vendors to cover injury or loss of goods, etc., caused by incident during the creation of individual merchandise. This is still in the very early stages. Studies are under way to find the best cost effective services to offer.

Partnership with similar interest associations will be created in an effort to build support for the alliance and its member markets. This will include email updates and special interest contacts on a local, regional or alliance wide level. Organizations with a specific agenda, such as "Buy Local" campaign and "Go Green" initiative will be the highest priority.


Please be patient as the RFMAA makes its transformation and grows into the new CVMA. We will give updates as they become available.

If you have an idea you feel would be valuable to the alliance, please email the RFMAA at richmondfmaa@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support!

Scott Sibley

Farmers' Market Manager hired!

After a long search for the right candidate to fill the position of the 17th Street Farmers' Market Manager chair, a decision has been made.

Please welcome George Bolos to the 17th Street Farmers' Market. George Bolos, relocaing from Pennsylvania, accepted the position 2 weeks ago and has been learning the Richmond ropes as fast and as thoroughly as he is able. With the leadership Mr. Bolos will soon offer the market, coupled with the unmatched support of Vendor Coordinator Linette Bond, we can only expect to see a great improvement to our farmers' market. With this transition, we as a community must also do our part to support the farmers' market, its staff and its vendors.

Should you visit the 17th Street Farmers' Market and run across its new manager, please take a moment to welcome him to his new home. Should you see Linette, please let her know how much her devotion to the market is appreciated.

See you at the 17th Street Farmers' Market!

Scott Sibley
Chairman
RFMAA

Pictures from Arts in the Alley

Click HERE for a slideshow from the Richmond Times-Dispatch of our amazingly dedicated volunteers and their wonderful murals. More pictures to come in the very near future, so keep your peepers peeled.