YPSILANTI, MI - A federal grant has been issued to help support the expansion of Ypsilanti's farmers markets.

Ypsilanti-based nonprofit Growing Hope, which manages the city's farmers markets, received a $231,000 grant to expand the markets and complete a coming year-round, indoor-outdoor market, according to a release from the office of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Stabenow is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and authored the 2014 Farm Bill, which expanded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farmers Market Promotion Program. The grant comes from that program, which helps increase access to farmers markets and develops new opportunities for farmers to sell their goods locally, according to the release.

"We all know buying local is a win for our economy in Ypsilanti," Stabenow said in a statement. "When we grow our farmers markets, we can connect more families with fresh Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. And when our farmers can sell directly to their neighbors, it means more dollars in their pocket."

Growing Hope is expected to use the funds to increase the economic viability of farmers and small businesses by increasing the number of customers and sales at Ypsilanti farmers markets, according to the USDA's description of the funded project.

The project supports a marketing campaign, a training program for vendors, and the move from seasonal to year-round farmers markets upon the completion of the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace indoor-outdoor facility in 2017, according to the description.

"With the FMPP funds, the Ypsilanti Farmers Markets run by Growing Hope will be able to engage new customers through promoting diverse food cultures that make up our community," Erica Bloom, program director for Growing Hope, said in a statement. "Our Markets will be a place to celebrate Michigan farmers and their wide variety of agricultural products produced in our region."

A representative for Growing Hope was not immediately available for further comment.