It’s a joint effort of the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry and the Can’d Aid Foundation.

Jim Decker, president/CEO of the WCCBI, said that the origin of the effort was a connection made with Eric Webber, a Sugar Grove cyclist who had tried to get such a program off the ground previously.

The funds have to be raised locally. From there, the Foundation will make the bike purchases and oversee and administer the giveaway. The foundation focuses on a few key areas — shipping canned water to areas dealing with disasters, musical instrument availability, recycling efforts and “Treads and Trails” which focuses on getting bikes to people that need them.

Decker said the initial challenge was to figure out how to ensure the bicycles are distributed equitably.

That’s where a partnership with the Warren County School District and Tidioute Community Charter School came in.

Decker said that each first-grade parent in a public school was polled regarding whether their family was in need of a bicycle for their children.

The target number of bikes — 120 — would provide a bicycle and helmet for every first grader where a need was identified

The cost per bike is $250 so the goal is $30,000 raised by April 1.

“We want Warren County to do this bigger and better than anybody has,” Decker said. “(We) have a defined need of 120 bikes.”

It’s an ambitious goal but Decker said that $11,000 in funding had already been committed, kicked off by a $5,000 donation from the Highmark Foundation.

There are two tracks that make up the fundraising piece. The $30,000 target has been presented to the county’s businesses.

“(We’re) focused on the business side,” Decker said “We sent sponsorship opportunities to all of our member businesses.”

He said he thinks the “lion’s share” of the funding will be raised this way.

“We’re doing really well as we move forward to the April 1 goal of $30,000,” he said.

That April 1 deadline is important because it sets the stage for two events in May that will get the bikes to the kids.

The first is a bike building event set for May 21 at Kinzua Beach.

Decker said there will be a “party environment” for volunteers that help build the bikes. “After the build, (we’ll) have the opportunity to go ride the trail (and) have some food.”

He said anyone willing to build bikes is welcome to participate.

That work then culminates on May 22 when the WCSD will bring the 120 first graders to the back parking lot of the Warren County Career Center for a bike festival where the Foundation will bring in pro-riders for a demonstration but also teach the kids how to ride and care for their new bike.

“It’s going to be a fun day,” Decker said.

Individuals looking to contribute are encouraged to visit candaid.salsalabs.org/ericwebberbikebuild2023.

Decker said that $1,600 has been raised so far from individuals. The library has said they will provide a book to each of the 120 kids and Decker said those funds could be used to help offset that cost and cover costs for the events, as well.

He said there’s been interest in the musical instrument effort in a future year where those funds could also be rolled over to.

“We’re really excited about it,” he added. “It’s a great initiative.”