The Common Market Feasibility Study - Agricultural Marketing Service

THE COMMON MARKET FEASIBILTY STUDYIntroduction25Study GoalsThe stated goal of the Common Market application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community andEconomic Development (DCED) "First Industries" grant program was: "To create a business plan for alocal agricultural products distribution center with retail and food processing elements in Philadelphiathat will be implemented by project partners."The above goal was achieved by the following specific activities as outlined in our original DCED FirstIndustries Application:• Study the feasibility of a local agricultural products distribution center in the Brewerytownsection of Philadelphia to be located in a building owned by a project partner; the feasibilitystudy will include a food co-op, other retail outlets and value-added food processing businessesin the same building as the distribution center,• Refine the concept based on the feasibility study,• Prepare a conceptual architectural and engineering design for the facility,• Prepare legal and accounting recommendations for the business structure,• Create a business plan.The following is a list of ancillary goals related to this study and the creation of the Common Market:• Promote and develop agriculture in Southeastern Pennsylvania by the construction andoperation of a locally grown agricultural products distribution center,• Increase sales of regionally grown agricultural food products within the Philadelphiametropolitan area,• Improve food security in the Philadelphia region,• Operate the distribution center after its startup phase without public or private subsidy,• Job creation in both the rural and urban communities of Philadelphia,• Catalyze the revitalization of low income urban neighborhoods through food,• Increase the access to locally grown agricultural products in a low income urban neighborhood,• Stimulate the formation of food cooperatives and buying clubs supplied by the distributioncenter,• Catalyze the development of entrepreneurial enterprises related to food processing.