MN Bicycling Awards Recognizes People’s Food Co-op of Rochester
More Minnesotans are bicycling more often, and more towns, cities and businesses across the state are working to become bicycle-friendly.
To recognize some of the organizations and individuals working especially hard and doing amazing things to support bicycling, the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota has revitalized the Minnesota Bicycling Awards (formerly the Northstar Biking Awards), which lay dormant for more 20 years.
People from across the state nominated their colleagues, local community members, and organizations for the Minnesota Bicycling Awards over a month-long period. The submission list was reviewed by a panel of bicycle educators and advocates, and the winners were announced at the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota’s Annual Meeting on May 1. The 2016 winners and categories
- Bicycle Friendly Business Champion: People’s Food Co-op of Rochester
- Educator of the Year (School/Organization): Minneapolis Public Schools Safe Routes to School
- Educator of the Year (Individual): Adam Cooke of Prairie View Elementary School in Eden Prairie
- Bicycle Friendly Community Champion: Wayne Hurley of Fergus Falls
- Advocate of the Year: Winter Cycling Congress Chairs
More about Bicycle Friendly Business Champion, People’s Food Co-op of Rochester:
Congratulations to People’s Food Co-op (PFC) of Rochester! The award was accepted by Brad Smith, Public Relations and Member Services Manager at PFC, at the May 1 MN Bike Awards in Saint Paul.
In 2015, People’s Food Co-op (PFC) attained a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Business Award. This is a prestigious national award given by the League of American Bicyclists, the national bike advocacy organization. PFC is one of only five businesses in Minnesota to achieve this level and one of 120 nationwide. As an organization, People’s Food Co-op has been a leader in considering the health impact of active living and in designing a business that is friendly to the biking community in Rochester.
This organization’s structure promotes bike commuting for employees and shoppers, including amenities such as attractive bike parking and a bike fix-it station in the parking lot. People’s Food Co-op has also entered into a partnership with Olmsted County’s Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant and Wellness Works to support employee health by purchasing helmets, bike locks, bike pumps, and bicycles for staff to use to bike to work. Additionally, PFC has been a business supporter of bringing Nice Ride MN bike share to Rochester and also helped to organize the American Diabetes Association Tour De Cure, which raised thousands of dollars and supported local community members living with diabetes.
People’s Food Co-op is leading the business community by investing in healthy community projects, which expand upon the work of Olmsted County Public Health. Frequently the organization speaks up to show their support of active, healthier transportation within the business community and related business community organizations.
“Rochester and the state of Minnesota are a better place for the bike-friendly work of People’s Food Co-op, and BikeMN is fortunate to have them as a partner in the greater Rochester-Olmsted County area,” said Dorian Grilley, Executive Director of BikeMN. “Their support of healthy community initiatives is outstanding and deserving of recognition in the business community!”
More about BikeMN:
BikeMN is working to make Minnesota a place where bicycling is a easy, safe and fun for everyone. The mission of BikeMN is to unite and strengthen bicycle advocacy, education, and work for a more bicycle friendly Minnesota
Information for this blog post sourced from BikeMN press release and blog post.