The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported today in its West Metro section about the opening of a new bike sales and repair shop in north Minneapolis.
Good news right? An entrepreneur risking hard-earned capital in a tough economy? Not quite.
The new shop sells new (and soon will sell used) bikes and bike accessories, offers repair services and will teach maintenance and repair skills. A coffee shop will soon join the space to make it more of a destination.
The Star Tribune reports that,
"The shop received $350,000 from the city, which was a recipient of a federal grant to help support healthy behaviors and reduce city obesity through increased physical activity and improved nutrition."
And it turns out the shop is a non-profit.
It sounds like the effort will provide good training to new workers and lots of other benefits, in line with the non-profit mission. However, it seems that the City and federal taxpayers are subsidizing two businesses, bike and coffee, that compete with private, for-profit establishments.
Makes me wonder about our budget priorities.
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