Women’s bike biz group, The Portland Society, announces grant program

The Portland Society, a local non-profit that seeks to strengthen and support women-owned bike businesses, has announced a new grant program.

Here’s the info from the call for applicants:

What: Women seeking to develop their leadership and professional skills for use in promoting active transportation and livable streets are encouraged to apply to the Portland Society Fund. Grants of up to $500 are available. All women are encouraged to apply, particularly students and women identifying as minorities.

The grants come out of the Portland Society Fund, which is a professional development grant for “women seeking to improve their leadership skills for use in promoting livable streets and active transportation.”

Elly Blue is co-founder of The Portland Society. She says the fund (and the group itself) was born last summer after an event she helped organize brought together bike-centric, women entrepreneurs to network and learn from each other. The Portland Society now meets every month and has over 30 members. Group Co-founder Ellee Thalheimer says The Portland Society is, “Like a hipper, bikier version of Rotary Club.”

In a press release, Blue said she hopes to receive a diverse pool of grant applicants:

“We would be thrilled to receive an application from, say, a bike shop employee who needs marketing skills to move up the ladder. Or a woman who dreams of learning the art and craft of custom framebuilding. Or someone looking for work in transportation advocacy who would be a better job candidate if she had web development skills or spoke Vietnamese. We want to hear from students, seniors, mid-career professionals, freewheeling artists. The sky’s the limit.”

This is the Fund’s first call for applications. Applications are due on March 31, 2011. More information at PortlandSociety.org