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PAT DILL ENJOYS GROCERY SHOPPING IN HER HOMETOWN, PILOT GROVE.
UNTIL RECENTLY, SHOPPING THERE WASN’T AN OPTION.
BUT WITH THE HELP OF UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION AND THE
COMMUNITY, DILL CAN NOW SHOP AT THE NEW LOCAL GROCERY STORE, TYLER’S
MARKET. “It’s heaven sent for us because at our
age it was very difficult to get out and get groceries. We’d have to go a long way.”
FIVE YEARS AGO, PILOT GROVE LOST ITS GROCERY STORE.
IRONICALLY, THIS FARMING COMMUNITY THAT SUPPLIES THE COUNTRY WITH FOOD
DID NOT HAVE A PLACE FOR ITS OWN RESIDENTS TO SHOP, CLASSIFYING IT AS A
FOOD DESERT. MU EXTENSION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SPECIALIST CONNIE MEFFORD KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL GROCERY STORES.
“People need healthy foods. They need fresh produce, they need fresh fruits, they
need fresh dairy and so having the grocery store here guarantees that everyone in the
community will have that access.”
FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, MEFFORD WORKED WITH THE PILOT GROVE
COMMUNITY TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
“We can come in and try to support those communities and try and connect them
with other resources outside of their area.” THROUGH SEVERAL TOWN HALL
MEETINGS, INVESTORS CONSISTING OF FARMERS AND RESIDENTS STEPPED UP
DONATING MORE THAN $300,000. THE 23 LOCAL INVESTORS FORMED AN L-
L-C TO CONSTRUCT AND OWN THE NEW BUILDING HOUSING TYLER’S MARKET.
ROBERT FELTEN, A LOCAL CATTLE FARMER AND ONE OF THE LOCAL
INVESTORS SAYS IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
“When you look around through the Midwest, small towns are drying up
becomes a bedroom community. It was just a service that the people needed.”
“It’s more than the grocery store.” DOLORES STEGNER SAYS IT’S A PLACE
WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN MEET AND SHOP IN THEIR HOMETOWN.
“So, yes the grocery store is a little bit higher but when you factor that into the fact
that extra time, extra transportation fees of
going someplace else, they balance.”
THE PILOT GROVE COMMUNITY HOPES TO INSPIRE OTHER SMALL COMMUNITIES
THAT THEY CAN OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE TO
THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES. FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
SHANNON YOKLEY REPORTING.