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CAMP STRIKER, Iraq (May 5, 2008) - The Yusifiyah Wholesale
Farmers' Market had a grand reopening last week after closing four
years ago.
"This was the center of commerce for the city before the war,"
said Capt. Steve McGregor, from Longwood, Fla., projects officer
for 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). "It shut down because
of all the fighting ... It was the main way the farmers in this
agrarian society made their money."
Now, the wholesale market may help turn a profit for local
farmers. Regular markets only allow farmers to sell produce or
goods a little at a time; at the wholesale market, people come to
buy bulk produce by the kilogram.
After a terrorist attack on the market forced the closure in
2004, it was victimized by criminal activity and fell into a state
of disrepair.
Capt. Michael Starz, a Pittsburgh native, and commander of
Company C, 3-187th Inf. Regt., met frequently with the owner of the
market, Turki Harridege, to coordinate support for the
reopening.
The 4th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division agreed
to provide security for the market, and a member of the Ministry of
Sewage helped to clean the area.
To help get the market fully suitable for business, McGregor
worked with Staff Sgt. Thai Starkovich, from Gardina, Calif., the
headquarters military transition team noncommissioned officer in
charge, Co. C, 3-187th Inf. Regt., and Michael Khatib, from
Melbourne, Calif, a bilingual, bicultural adviser for the
Department of State, to handle micro-grant applications that will
jump start to the farmers who were setting up shop.
With the money, which can reach up to $2,500, farmers can buy
inventory, signs, store safes, new doors and other equipment,
McGregor said.
While not all the stores were occupied the first day, Harridege
said all 120 storefronts should be occupied within two to three
months.
"This is a huge event," Starkovich said. "Having this open with
minimal security and having people able to just walk in and out,
speaks for itself as far as the confidence the people and the shop
owners have about the security situation here in Yusifiyah. It's a
very good sign for progress in the region."
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