Rendering of the proposed Green Bay Public Market (Image courtesy On Broadway)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — It appears the Green Bay Public Market project could be on hold until more funding can be secured.
A statement from officials with the project says they are “working tirelessly to close our funding gap over the next few months at which time we will establish a new timeline.”
The market plans were first announced in January 2022 to transform the 45,000-square-foot Old Fort Square building on Broadway into a tourist destination, providing locally-sourced goods from at least 20 vendors.
The project has since experienced construction delays, increased costs and setbacks in securing funding.
The following statement is from Ken Strmiska, capital campaign chair for the project; Linda Bova, On Broadway, Inc. board president and Barb LaMue, On Broadway’s previous board president:
Public amenity projects that require a combination of public and private dollars are challenging and often experience delays and cost adjustments. This happens as you adjust to merchant needs, donor desires, and grant requirements. We’ve witnessed this with similar projects and other local campaigns.
We appreciate the eagerness of the community as it demonstrates excitement and a desire to bring the Green Bay Public Market to completion quickly, but our objective is to do the project well, not fast.
Our board, capital campaign cabinet, and On Broadway staff are working tirelessly to close our funding gap over the next few months at which time we will establish a new timeline.
Financial support for this project has been overwhelming, and we are filled with gratitude to our donors and supporters. We remain focused on the project’s mission and feel lucky to live in a community that has a vision for what could be and often achieves it.
Officials say a public update planned in a few weeks.
The original goal was for the market to be open in 2023. Then, it was moved back to 2025 to open in time for the NFL Draft in April, but in June, officials set a new goal of 2026 — ideally before the first Farmers’ Market On Broadway of the season.
In June, the estimated project cost was $22 million. $3 million for the project was cut from the state’s 2025-2027 biennial budget.
Project officials have estimated the public market could have a $65 million annual economic impact and trigger more than $100 million in nearby new development.
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