In 2018, 56.6% of residents’ retail dollars left Kuna. A new market hopes to change that

Kuna lost $174 million in retail spending to neighboring cities in 2018.

As residents traveled to Nampa, Boise and Meridian to do their shopping, 56.6% of residents’ retail spending dollars leaked out of the city. Now, an ambitious proposal to highlight the city’s many small businesses hopes to bring that spending and commerce back.

“We are a city that has developed into a bit of a bedroom community,” said Lisa Holland, who works as the Kuna economic development director. “Ninety-five percent of our property tax base comes from our residential population, not from commercial spending. Economic development has been a big priority over the last couple years, and part of the reason my job was created is to try and go out and create more economic opportunity for Kuna.”

The Kuna Market Village, a proposal spearheaded by Holland, aims to combat the low levels of retail spending by offering small business owners — farmers, craftsmen and food vendors — small shed-like storefronts for roughly $250 to $350 a month in downtown Kuna, a far cry from the price of renting a shop on Main Street. A mock-up site map predicts that the village will contain 20 small storefronts centered around a plaza, with room for food trucks and street performers.

While there’s no shortage of small businesses in Kuna, Holland said that steep rents and lack of storefront availability prohibit many from opening shops downtown. About 60% of Kuna businesses have fewer than five employees, and many operate out of their houses or garages. There is only one major shopping center — Ridley’s Family Markets — for the 64,000 people who live within a six mile radius from Kuna’s downtown, Holland said.

Holland describes the proposed marketplace as a “retail incubator.” She hopes small businesses that initially take up shop in one of the village’s sheds will be able to occupy more permanent places downtown, thus increasing residents’ retail spending within the city.

Though the proposal, developed by the Kuna economic development committee, has gone in front of the City Council, it’s not fully finalized. The Market Village is set to open in May 2021, pending approval from the city’s Planning and Zoning commission and feedback from the Kuna School Board. Two public Zoom calls are scheduled to collect additional community feedback were scheduled for July 22.

The market will stay open from May to September, with most businesses occupying their sheds for the entirety of the season.

When constructing the proposal, Holland drew inspiration from Tionesta Market Village in Pennsylvania and the Muskegon market in Michigan. If constructed, it will be the first of its kind in Idaho.

Holland hopes the village can act as a meeting spot for community members and a connection point for small business owners looking to expand. She plans to offer “business boot camps” sessions to market vendors, on topics ranging from financing and building a budget to safe food handling.

As the market is set to open on property owned by the Kuna school district, Holland wants to involve local students in its construction. She said students may be able to learn hands-on skills by assisting in shed construction.

Holland and the Kuna economic development committee began discussing the proposal in May 2019, planning for the market to open this summer. The opening date has since been pushed back as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

A public survey put out by Holland and the committee about the proposal garnered 48 responses, most of which, according to Holland, were positive. She said 23 small businesses have already expressed interest in taking up shop in the village.

The economic development committee is planning to begin taking applications from vendors between January and March. Vendors will likely need to submit rough business plans and show pictures of the goods they plan to sell in their applications. The committee will prioritize local producers and will not give space to multi-level marketing companies. Those whose applications are not selected will be placed onto a waiting list for a future opening.

Market Village rents will vary depending on the needs of each individual business. Most vendors will occupy their sheds for the entire season, but some, like seasonal produce stands, may be able to rent out sheds for shorter periods of time.

Holland is excited to see the village enliven downtown Kuna.

“We are really optimistic that we can make this work and we’re really excited to have the community support,” Holland said.