LAWTON — Comanche County has awarded $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to the Lawton Farmers Market Institute for upgrades to the Farmers Market building.
The Comanche County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously May 10 to approve a notice of award and subrecipient award agreement to the Farmers Market Institute, a nonprofit organization that runs the Farmers Market building.
The money will be used to buy and install heaters and containment screens for the building’s outdoor pavilion, making it safer and more comfortable for patrons visiting the facility in colder weather, according to the agenda for the board’s May 10 meeting. The upgrades are also designed to enhance Farmers Market services and programs.
The American Rescue Plan Act is a federal relief program that provides financial aid to local units of government in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Comanche County received about $23 million from Oklahoma’s pot of ARPA money.
The county has set aside part of its ARPA money to help communities and nonprofit organizations with various projects, including the Farmers Market improvements.