In June 2012 two organizations received grants to support bicycling through the Sunrise Grant Initiative, a program of the Bike Virginia Tour. Applications were accepted from organizations and businesses in the northern Shenandoah Valley from January to May 2012. The two winners were announced at the 25th Anniversary celebration for the annual Bike Virginia tour which took place at the Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville on June 23. Visiting cyclists and community members attended the grant ceremony and enjoyed an evening of live music by Furnace Mountain and cupcakes. Refreshments were provided by local baker, Sweet Surrender, and sponsored by both the bakery and local businesses.
The Town of Berryville and Clarke County received a shared grant to start a new bike share program for the government office building. The funding will be used to help purchase a bike and safety equipment that will be available for building employees to use for exercise and errand running. The granted amount was $500.00. Additional funds for the project were secured through a bike ride fundraiser held earlier in the year in the community.
Alison Teetor, Natural Resource Planner for Clarke County, Cheif Neal White, Town of Berryville Police, and Celeste Heath, Berryville Town Clerk with some of the materials purchased for Bike Rodeos
The Town of Berryville Police Department was the second grant recipient. Five hundred dollars was awarded to support the existing bike rodeo, youth education program. New materials will be purchased to improve the existing program with educates up to 400 youth per year.
Congratulations to both organizations on outstanding work aimed at making your community a better place to live, work, and play.
Read more about the grant program on our Sunrise Grant Page