BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — QBP is launching a new grant program that will support bike shop-led initiatives to support their communities. The grants will support shop-led programs related to increasing ridership among diverse and/or underserved populations, youth ridership, bicycle infrastructure or educational programs.
"The fact that retailers are proposing and leading their own projects makes this grant program especially powerful," said Kim Marek, QBP's community grant director. "Local retailers know their communities best and will be able to have a greater impact because of that."
The grant pool of more than $30,000 is made up of donations from QBP's Dealer's Choice brands, which were matched dollar-for-dollar by the QBP Fund, QBP's charitable foundation. Individual award amounts will vary based on number of selected projects and project scale.
Dan Dittmer of Wolf Tooth Components, one of the Dealer's Choice brands, said. "What got me most excited about this grant is that it targets areas that are holding back the cycling community and it empowers people at a local community level to address problems and effect change."
The application period opened Monday and initial applications are due March 12. There will be notification of initial application results on April 2, and then the full application will be due April 30. The grants will be awarded on May 21.
More information at qbp.com/community-grant.
The Dealer's Choice brands that are supporting the program are: SRAM, Burley, Kali Protectives, Wolf Tooth, Wheels Manufacturing Inc., Ortlieb, Kuat, Swiftwick, Kryptonite, Stan’s NoTubes, NiteRider, WTB, RockShox, DT Swiss, Jagwire, Lizard Skins, Park Tool, Osprey and Five Ten.
