AKRON, Ohio - In preparation for the first North Akron Market, the Exchange House is seeking prepared food producers, farmers, crafters and artisans to fill the vendors slots.

The first market is set for Saturday, May 5 from 2-7 p.m. at the Exchange house, 760 Elma St. in North Hill neighborhood.

With a community center for refugees and immigrants downstairs and an international hostel upstairs, the Exchange House is a project of the Knight Foundation and the Dallas-based Better Block Foundation. It was created through a $155,000 2015 Knight Cities Challenge grant.

North Hill has long been Akron's international neighborhood. The Exchange House was created to serve as a central location for foreign-born residents to gather for programming, health clinics and group meetings.

Akron's immigrant population has helped strengthen the economy and housing market. According to the "New American Economy, Welcome to Akron" study by the Knight Foundation, between 2000 and 2013, foreign-born residents settling in Summit County increased the overall housing value by $207 million. Collectively, Akron's Immigrants and refugees hold $137 million in annual spending power and contribute $17 million in state and local taxes each year.

The North Akron Market, which will take place every Saturday through September 29, is a collaboration between the Exchange House, the North Akron Community Development Corp. , Shanti Community Farms and the Irish Restoration Assoc.

"We're planning on using the May market to work out the kinks in our system and a grand opening will be held at the market in June," said John Ughrin, executive director of the North Akron CDC.

Organizers are now accepting vendor applications, which can be downloaded here or filled out online.The markets will accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, payments.

Seating, a stage and places to congregate are being installed around the Exchange House property. Live music will be available during the first market of each month and the house will be open to tour.

To encourage entrepreneurism in the immigrant population, monthly workshops are also planned. The first workshop is set for Friday, April 13 at 9 a.m., and will focus on the prepared-food business.

The workshop will cover food-sales licenses, including how to fill out the forms and the details on temporary versus permanent licenses. The workshops will cover a different topic each month and American-born entrepreneurs are welcome to attend.

"Some of these things can be daunting for people," Ughrin said. "The help is available for everybody."

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