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Downtown Worcester BID Awarded $100,000 Urban Agenda Grant to Expand 2025 Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers Market
WORCESTER, MA – The Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) has been awarded $100,000 from the Commonwealth’s Urban Agenda Grant Program through the Executive Office of Economic Development to expand the annual Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers Market series in 2025. This grant funding will allow the BID and its partners—including the City of Worcester and Mass Farmers Markets—to extend the festival to ten dates for Summer 2025, bringing more vendors, fresh local produce, and arts programming to the Worcester Common. The expanded series aims to increase foot traffic and create additional economic opportunities for local farmers, small businesses, and non-profit organizations from across Central Massachusetts.
“The Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers Market has become a popular annual celebration of local culture, entrepreneurship, and great food in Worcester, and this funding will help us take that to the next level,” said Julian Wade, Board Chair of the Downtown Worcester BID. “Thanks to this significant Urban Agenda Grant, we will be able to expand Out to Lunch with additional dates in Summer 2025, providing even more opportunities for the community to support small businesses and enjoy Downtown Worcester in a fun and lively setting.”
A central focus of the festival expansion will be an enhanced farmers market component, which will support and spotlight regional farmers, including those who may be otherwise unable to offer SNAP processing. By partnering with organizations such as Mass Farmers Markets and the Worcester Regional Food Hub, the BID is creating a robust platform for local, healthy food access in the heart of Worcester.
Grant funds will go towards expanded market staffing, a larger production and talent budget, an extensive marketing campaign, and vital infrastructure enhancements, including new equipment to process SNAP-EBT benefits, making fresh produce and local goods more accessible to all.
“The partnership between the BID and Mass Farmers Markets will increase the visibility and viability of small farms and vendors from across the region,” said Edith Murnane, Executive Director of Mass Farmers Markets. “These Urban Agenda Grant funds will help create more opportunities for small businesses and help ensure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to fresh, healthy food in Downtown Worcester.”
First created by the City of Worcester in 2009, the Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers Market has grown to become one of Worcester's signature summer events, drawing hundreds of attendees to the Downtown area on each festival date. With additional dates, a wider selection of vendors, an expanded farmers market, and enhanced production and marketing, the 2025 expansion is expected to attract even more attendees, generating substantial economic activity for the area while fostering a thriving community.
"The Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers Market, now under the leadership of the Downtown Worcester BID team, has the power to bring communities together and support our local economy. Its expansion not only highlights the vibrancy of Worcester's downtown area but also emphasizes a commitment to sustainable economic development and equitable food access,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “The City of Worcester is proud to continue supporting this popular event series, and the well-deserved award of this Urban Agenda Grant is a testament to the BID’s role as a leader in harnessing community partnerships and resources to create new opportunities for all.”
More information about the 2025 Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers Market, including announcements about vendor opportunities, will be available in early 2025. To receive updates on Out to Lunch and other Downtown-related news, sign up at: tinyurl.com/DowntownWorcesterNews
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