More than a market…
Mercado on Fifth is not just a market; it serves as a resource and catalyst for aspiring entrepreneurs. The weekly events bring Quad Citizens together to celebrate culture and community in an inclusive way. Educational programming at Mercado provides enrichment hours for children, and nonprofit booth space gets helpful information to adults.
Small and Minority-Owned Business Development
By addressing the specific needs of small businesses in the area, Mercado on Fifth and its partners have helped create and/or provide a platform for 30 new minority-owned businesses in the Quad Cities region. Most vendors have taken advantage of our free small business workshops (in Spanish and English) in partnership with the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Western Illinois University (SBDC). Through the management of the SBDC, we also started a micro-grant program for minority entrepreneurs to purchase equipment for their businesses. Over the past two years, Mercado founder Bob Ontiveros has given away over $62,000 to over 40 minority-owned businesses to purchase anything from food warmers to an industrial sewing machine.
Black Hawk College, another valued partner, also began offering the Food Sanitation Management class in Spanish at the request of Mercado leadership. Previously, Spanish speakers interested in becoming a kitchen manager or starting a food business had to drive to Chicago to take the class. Finally, Mercado on Fifth supported the creation of a commercial kitchen located within St. John’s Lutheran Church just blocks away from the Moline event space, thus completing the entrepreneurial eco-system. Mercado vendors and other small businesses now rent the kitchen for a small hourly fee.
Community Pride
Another part of Mercado's core mission is to foster community and cultural pride in the Quad Cities. Mercado’s weekly summer events provide a unique family-friendly space where visitors can enjoy Latin food, music and art. The burst of activity on Fifth Avenue every Friday evening brings people together in a refreshing way, attracting all ages and ethnicities. Mercado on Fifth is currently the only nonprofit organization committed to bringing Latin cultural acts to our region.
Our inclusive events have claimed space for the Latin community at a prime location on the edge of downtown Moline. Previously, the under-represented population was not visible at large community events and gatherings. We hope our efforts have and will continue to create a bridge for Latinx people to be more active in the community. The bridge also links non-Latinx community members to the rich and vibrant cultural heritage represented at Mercado.
Educational Opportunities
Mercado on Fifth is also dedicated to providing educational opportunities. Over the past four years, Mercado has partnered with The Family Museum, Putnam Museum, Moline Public Library, streamline architects, Nahant Marsh, Moline Fire Department, WQPT and Read Moline to engage children at Mercado in summer enrichment activities. STEM activities have included robot programming and spaghetti and marshmallow towers that had to withstand simulated earthquakes. Read Moline gave away over 1,500 books in Spanish and English during the last two seasons. Nahant Marsh connected children with our local natural environment, by bringing live animals and educational materials to Mercado.
More than 40 nonprofit organizations have been provided free booth spaces to pass out educational and outreach materials to local families. Organizations include Family Resources, Gigi’s Playhouse, Habitat for Humanity, UnityPoint Health, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Palomares Social Justice Center. We believe this access to information has created a more empowered and engaged neighborhood.