The City of Sanford broke ground on the Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace on November 21, 2024, fulfilling a vision five years in the making.

With tremendous community support and public-private partnerships, the Marketplace is set to play a vital role in preserving Sanford’s rich agricultural history while investing in the community’s future.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together community members, business owners, state and local officials, and other stakeholders to celebrate what the Marketplace means for the city and the region.

“This is going to be unlike anything else in the Sandhills region. What an amazing moment for us to come together and celebrate this uniquely collaborative endeavor that recognizes the vital role that agriculture plays in our lives,” said Bill Stone, Lee County Director for the N.C. Cooperative Extension, during the event.

“We have a bold vision for a Marketplace that supports our local farmers, addresses food insecurity, and connects our residents to fresh, local, and healthy foods all year long, fostering entrepreneurship and creating a great quality of life public space,” said Mayor Rebecca Salmon.

Kenny Flowers, Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, emphasized the importance of community working together. “You don’t have successes like this unless you have cooperation and public-private partnerships,” he noted.

The Marketplace will act as a gateway to the future Sanford Central Green, extending from Charlotte Avenue and First Street in Downtown Sanford to the Sanford Municipal Center on Weatherspoon Street. The concept includes options for facilities for public use, a greenway, community amenities, and the restoration of Little Buffalo Creek.

“We can’t wait to see what the completed Sanford Central Green Project will look like along this entire corridor,” stated Stone. “It’s exciting to envision the Marketplace as a launch point for this ambitious next phase of downtown development.”

With generous funding from public and private partners, the Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace has secured over $3 million in funding. Allocations include:

• $1 million from the Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands Trust;
• $900,000 from the North Carolina Department of Commerce Rural Transformation Grant fund;
• $611,000 from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission;
• $505,000 from the Pilgrim’s Hometown Strong Grant; and
• $50,000 from the Lee County Farm Bureau.

The City of Sanford will make the remaining investment using funds made available by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Lee County Board of Commissioners Chair Kirk Smith shared that, based on the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Lee County has 264 farms and 31,204 agricultural acres. The market value of the crops and livestock production the county contributed that year was over $60 million.

The Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace highlights the essential role that growers and producers play in enhancing our quality of life, as shown by the growth of our local farmers market and the enthusiasm for this project.

“When we set out to revive the Sanford Farmers Market, we didn’t know it would lead to this historic new addition to Sanford, but we knew there was a demand for fresh, high-quality, homemade goods – and we knew our local growers could meet that demand,” said Kelli Laudate, Executive Director of Downtown Sanford, Inc. “Now we have the space to do that and more – and the entire community will benefit.”

The Marketplace is anticipated for completion in 2025. Follow the construction process on our projects hub.