NewBo City Market to launch capital campaign

CEDAR RAPIDS — NewBo City Market on Saturday will launch its “Next Level Local” capital campaign aimed at expanding its business space and public events capacity.

The launch event, from 10 a.m. to noon, will offer family activities, prizes and welcoming remarks from Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell. Visitors also can talk with market employees about the expansion plans.

The capital campaign goal will be announced Saturday.

“We’re excited to share our vision for the future of this community treasure,“ Julie Parisi, the market’s executive director, said in a statement. ”On Saturday, we’ll be unveiling the design plans and discussing how the expansion will make a lasting impact in the neighborhood around us.“

NewBo City Market opened in 2012 as a cornerstone in revitalizing the area devastated by the 2008 flood. It has since added a larger green space, a stage, an educational community kitchen and a large indoor event space.

It hosts more than 300 community events per year and has helped nearly 300 small businesses get started. Each year, more than 500,000 people visit the market.

“The market has become a centerpiece to Cedar Rapids,” Parisi said. “As we look ahead to the next 10 years, we choose to respond — as we always have — to the greatest needs of our community. This has prompted us to design the Next Level Local Capital Campaign, a targeted expansion that will increase our business incubation, local food access, and public events capacity.”

More information about the market and the capital campaign can be found at the NewBo City Market website.