Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace, currently under construction and set to open in 2026, is a key part of the City of Sanford‘s downtown revitalization. This 12,000-square-foot facility will feature an open-air farmer’s market, commercial kitchens, classrooms, and event spaces to support local agriculture and foster community engagement.
WithersRavenel is working as a subconsultant to HH Architecture on this project, leading the site planning and permitting aspects, including civil engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, subsurface utility engineering (SUE), environmental, and construction services.
The project, five years in the making, has received more than $3 million in funding from various public and private sources, including the Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands Trust, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, the Pilgrim’s Hometown Strong Grant, and the Lee County Farm Bureau. Additionally, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been allocated to ensure its completion.
The marketplace is expected to be a cornerstone of the broader Sanford Central Green initiative, which includes creating a greenway and restoring Little Buffalo Creek. Community leaders and residents are excited about the marketplace’s potential to boost local entrepreneurship and address food insecurity, making it a model for downtown revitalization.
