Seems to me I'd posted an update on this group recently but I can't find it. Sorry if this is duplicate info.

Several weeks ago our grant person walked into my office. "We want to apply for this Missouri Foundation for Health grant," she told me, "but none of us have time. Then we thought of you and the new bike group. Would you be interested?"

Despite the 3 other grant deadlines, I did not hesitate in saying "YES!" What followed was a chaotic few weeks. I figured I'd have many more ideas than what we could fit into the budget, but I got the important ones to fit. Partnering with the local Bike Co-op and getting a part-time manager for them is probably the best idea I had. The closest bike shop is 90 miles away, and the Bike Co-op is a diamond in the rough run entirely by undergrads. It needs consistency & reliability. I worked closely with them developing the grant, and met a LOT of people who are really important for KA-Motion.

The other main element of the grant is Walking School Bus. I had no idea how popular that would turn out to be! By the end of it (yesterday), the person who originally asked me said she has enough experience with grants to know that you can't get your heart set on them--but she has her heart set on this one. I assured her that I'm already thinking about alternative funding opportunities and creative ways to make this happen.

I've met so many people, and they are all so excited and enthusiastic about the grant, about KA-Motion, about Walking School Bus, about Bike Co-op, about everything I want to do. It's exciting..and exhausting. But mostly exciting!

I was invited to speak to the Optimists Club the day before the grant deadline. The brand-new mayor was there and we chatted about Walking School Bus and bike/ped issues. Yesterday--the grant deadline--this article came out. Here's the relevant quote:
"[Mayor] Detweiler said his four main objectives as mayor will be to ..., work with Kirksville Area Motion to create more resources for walkers and bicyclists and..."

I am astounded. In a good way!!

It has been a wild ride!