Sprout & Uproot
1. In 2009, we started organizing humans together who wanted an improved food system built for everyone in the Battle Creek area.
2. In 2010, we organized and built nearly 30 community gardens with new and existing groups of great humans in neighborhoods across the community. We developed strong relationships with land and property holding institutions and nonprofits.
3. In 2011, we got our first grant and hired our first employee, Devon Gibson. Then we hired 16 kids from across the community to work together in partnership with community gardens to make improvements and support their needs, linking community gardens in a strong network. On rainy days, we also made art together and put it in gardens around town.
4. In 2012, we purchased a 2 acre parcel of land from the County LandBank and hired a crew of kids to build the first youth-ran urban farm in Battle Creek.
5. In 2013, we made some of those kids farm managers and they managed farm operations, farmers market operations and community event tabling. We built our first hoophouse for season extension and training purposes. And we started operating mobile markets, primarily at senior centers.
6. In 2014, we built another hoophouse, expanded our mobile market network, and started farm to school programming, installing 6 hoophouses across our school districts.
7. In 2015, we renovated our tool library for community gardens into a storefront, a mini market. We started purchasing from other farmers and marketing their products at farmers markets and in our first CSA Box
8. In 2016, we began negotiations to transform the former Springfield Farmers Market into a virtual farmers market, taking our CSA to the internet. We also turned our farm into an incubator farm, growing new farmers.
9. In 2017, we leased the building in Springfield and began our incubator kitchen program and launched SproutBox.
10. In 2018, we made system improvements to our SproutBox and increased our capacity in our incubator kitchen, expanding rental storage space and implementing better software programs.
11. In 2019, we began discussions with Restore 269 about opening a storefront. We decided to revive an old conversation amongst members about founding a consumer owned food cooperative.
12. In 2020, we received our first award from BCU for the cooperative project. With Covid, we expanded our SproutBox to serve more communities in need.
13. In 2021, we launched cooperative membership sales and began fundraising for the project.
14. In 2022, we hired cooperative consultants to help with project management and raised approximately $500k in grant funding.
15. In 2023, we finalized store design and layout, equipment needs, and financial projections while continuing to promote membership. We crowdsourced names and chose Uproot Market & Eatery as our new name.
Restore (269)
2016:
– Caitlynn and Cody move back to their hometown of Battle Creek
2017:
– 115-117 W Michigan Avenue is purchased and Restore (269) is established
– Two commercial units and two residential units are revitalized in the historic Ratti Building bringing occupancy after many years
– The Newman’s and Sprout BC CEO, Jeremy Andrews, connect and discuss downtown development and the need for a downtown market
2018:
– Restore (269) expands and purchases 15 Carlyle Street to renovate after 20 years of vacancy.
– The building at 15 Carlyle is rebranded as the Record Box to pay homage to it’s historic roots.
– Restore (269) facilitates financing for the $2 million restoration
– Restore (269) receives a state grant for $450,000 with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Community Revitalization Program
– Construction on the 15 Carlyle Street building begins
2019:
– Restoration of the Record Box is complete
– Occupancy is received to bring 3 new businesses to the downtown
2020:
– Received the Michigan Historic Building Preservation Network’s Building Award
2021:
– Plans towards the renovation of 119-121 W Michigan Avenue begin
2022:
– Architectural Plans for the renovation are revised
– Preliminary construction bids are received
– Restore (269) pursues traditional financing, grant financing, and gap financing for the estimated $3 million restoration
2023:
– Restore (269) receives $1.5 million state grant with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Community Revitalization Program
– Architectural Plans and Design for the 13,500 square foot renovation are complete
– Final construction bids are received
– Construction begins for 119-121 W Michigan Avenue
2024:
– Historic Anson Building reopens for the first time since becoming vacant in 1997
– First floor market opens
– Upper level residential units are available for rent and new downtown neighbors move in