"The project is still very much alive and well," said Larry Maxey, chairman of the Northern Kentucky Regional Farmers Market Board and owner of Maxey Valley Farm in Kenton County.

"It's gotten a lot of interest from government, from business and from the producers themselves, as they transition from a tobacco economy to other kinds of things," he said. "We're optimistic that funding for a permanent market will be approved within the next year."

Organizers say they have commitments of $2.5 million in local funding and in-kind services for the $10 million, year-round covered market with permanent stations selling everything from baked goods to Kentucky-raised bison and goat meat.

Although the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board put Northern Kentucky's application for $5 million in tobacco settlement funds on hold last year, backers still hope they'll get state approval. The remaining $2.5 million will come from philanthropic and other sources, including federal programs, Maxey said.

The open air, tailgate market will require a minimal investment and will feature in-season, Kentucky grown produce that's likely harvested just hours before its sale, Maxey said. Backers are working with Covington officials to find the best location and will meet with growers Oct. 4 to discuss the tailgate market's hours of operation and other details.

Kentucky's Agricultural Development Fund, which includes Kentucky's share of tobacco settlement money, is to help farmers end, or at least curtail, their economic dependency on growing burley tobacco.

Board members have expressed concern that awarding $5 million to a Northern Kentucky Regional Farmers Market would take nearly one-third of the $17.8 million available statewide.

"It's not a limitless pot of funds," said Kara Keeton, a spokeswoman for the board. "Board members want to make sure that those funds are allocated where they're most needed."

The board put Northern Kentucky's application on hold to form a committee to study farmers markets elsewhere. That committee submitted its report to the board last Friday, and the full board will discuss how best to meet farmers' needs and how much money farmers markets should get at a special two-day meeting in October, Keeton said. The earliest the Northern Kentucky project would be considered by the Agricultural Development Board would be November.

More than 60 farmers from 11 Northern Kentucky counties that include Boone, Kenton and Campbell as well as some of the commonwealth's most tobacco-dependent areas, have expressed interest in the market, said George Heeger, vice chairman of the Northern Kentucky Regional Farmers Market Board. Organizers expect Covington residents and workers, as well as consumers from southern Kenton County and possibly Boone County, will shop at the market.

"We want to show the customers that we can provide a quality, fresh-grown Kentucky product that tastes and looks better than what you'd purchase for a comparable price at the grocery," Heeger said.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com