SLCBC Earn-a-Bike Grant Writing

Name and Purpose

What is the name of our program or project?

Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective Earn-A-Bike

What is the program’s mission? How does it fit within our overall organization’s mission and make sense given our values and other programs?

The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

In a world of disposable products today’s youth has lost touch with their mechanical aptitude. Our Earn-A-Bike classes re-acquaint the concept of repair, provide an affordable means of transportation, promote a sustainable and healthy lifestyle, as well as build self-confidence and pride in the participants. The students tear apart and learn how to rebuild a bicycle from scratch using the proper tools and techniques under the supervision of qualified mechanics. Not only do they gain mechanical skills but they are also taught, both formally and informally, what safe cycling is.

Community need

Is this program new or ongoing?

Ongoing.

If this program is ongoing, why and when was it started? Is it expanding? If so, why?

In the summer of 2003, Earn-A-Bike became the first official program of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective. Partnering with a Salt Lake City after-school program called YouthCity, we offered a 6-8 week class for 10-12 students, often at-risk or refugee youth. Since then the class has been offered xxx times serving xxx kids. That success and the demand for the program opened up another partnership with the local YWCA for their resident youth.

If the program is new, why is it being created? What is the specific community need for the program?

• Pollution Prevention
• Recycling
• Safety
• Obesity Epidemic
• Science