After the Big M Grocery store in Morrisville closed its doors last May, a group of neighbors have been trying to find a way to bring fresh groceries back into the community. But with competition from large chain stores in neighboring Cazenovia, Hamilton and Oneida cutting into the local market share, these residents are finding many grocery outlets are reluctant to set up shop in the small village.
This challenge is not stopping the community from working toward their goal of bringing fresh foods into town. Together with the Madison County Planning Department and Colgate University’s Upstate Institute, the group of neighbors is working on a study to determine a path forward that will bring fresh groceries to Morrisville and Eaton. The group has released a survey which will help assess the grocery needs and shopping habits of the community.
The survey is available on the Village of Morrisville and Town of Eaton websites. Paper copies are also available at the Morrisville and Eaton offices and in the July edition of the Morrisville Newsletter.
In addition to the survey, a community workshop will be held on Monday, July 25 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Plate and Pallet restaurant (10 Main Street, Morrisville) for any community members to come and discuss a range of options for bringing fresh foods into the Village.
The final study results will be presented on Monday, August 8 at the Plate and Pallet restaurant at 6 p.m.
“If we could get businesses to come here, I think it would do a lot for the community because people don’t necessarily want to run to Cazenovia or Hamilton every time you want something. I find it to be incredibly challenging without a store,” Village of Morrisville Trustee Kathy Roher said.Kathy is one of
Kathy is one of the individuals involved in working on this project, along with Mark Shepard, the Mayor of Morrisville. Cliff Moses, Town of Eaton Supervisor, also notes the lack of produce available in the area.“The Dollar
“The Dollar General has served as a good substitute for some groceries. But where the need is, is for fresh meat, fresh produce, [and] fresh vegetables.”
Colgate University research fellow Holly Mascolo is leading the study. As part of her research, she is exploring a range of models that other rural communities have used to bring fresh groceries into town.
She believes that matching the needs of Morrisville community members to the best fit model will be the key to a successful project.“This market might not attract a large chain grocery store, but a smaller independent, community-owned, or co-op store in the right location could be the answer. Community support for the store will be critical for its longevity.” As part of the study, Ms. Mascolo is also compiling
“This market might not attract a large chain grocery store, but a smaller independent, community-owned, or co-op store in the right location could be the answer. Community support for the store will be critical for its longevity.”As part of the study, Ms. Mascolo is also compiling
As part of the study, Ms. Mascolo is also compiling information about available real estate for the potential store in the one square mile village.
Kipp Hicks, Director of the Madison County Industrial Development Agency, says that the loss of a grocery store in a community can have a negative impact, and that this may be the case for Morrisville.
“A grocery store is an integral part of the community, and the loss could have a negative impact on Morrisville. The importance of keeping tax revenue and consumers in the home community cannot be overstated. There are many ancillary benefits to having a grocery store in a rural community other than sales tax revenue alone. Grocery stores also provide much-needed jobs, access to nutrition, and meeting places for the community.”
In addition to economic decline, the health of individuals in the community is also a concern. Public Health Office Director Eric Faisst and Joan Nicholson, Director of the Dietetic Technician Program at Morrisville State College, are involved in the project. They are both working to address the health concerns that come with a lack of fresh produce for sale in the community.
As a result, this group of neighbors hopes to bring fresh produce to the area in a way that best fits the needs of members of the community, whether it is through a farmers market, small grocery store, or other food retail option. The group hopes to gain as much input from the residents of Morrisville and Eaton as possible, through both the survey and community workshop.
If you have any questions or feedback on the project that you would like to share, you can reach out to Holly Mascolo at holly.mascolo@madisoncounty.ny.gov for more information.
Find the survey here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Qx6tfIC3vKPzippBAOrbdT7faMpKtxjeIgmVnfuXUjg/viewform or on the Village of Morrisville website http://www.morrisvilleny.com/
Community Workshop: Monday, July 25, 6 p.m to 7 p.m., Plate and Pallet restaurant (10 Main St., Morrisville)
Presentation of Study Findings: Monday, Aug. 8, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Plate and Pallet