Dane County Board provides $1M in additional funding; Market construction set to begin


The Dane County Board, already an important backer and funding source for the Madison Public Market, voted 30-3 on October 19 to provide and additional $1 million towards the Market’s completion. This is a final piece of financing that will allow the project to move toward a 2025 opening. The county’s contribution to the market’s financing comes after the Madison City Council voted to borrow about $1.6 million to help close a budget gap after construction bids came in higher than expected. The market will be funded with $11.5 million in city tax increment financing, $849,000 in city funds, up to $3 million in private donations, $4.25 million from state programs and an additional $1.5 million that Dane County approved last year. With the funding issues resolved, the Madison Public Market Foundation can begin next steps towards creating the operating structure that will run the Market. The City expects to begin construction within the next 60 days. You can read media coverage of the County Board decision on the In The News page.

I’m excited to have a place where people can share their passions and different cultures. The Madison Public Market has 30 participants in the MarketReady Program, 83% are people of color and 63% are women. This is truly exciting! To have a place where people can come together to shop, eat and just hang out but also to develop community, build relationships and grow. This is very exciting for the people who live here and for the people who will come visit Madison. - Alice Choi, Hip Foodie Mom

See What People are Saying