Live Cycle Delight Wins 2015 Hatch Prize

Hatch Detroit declared local bike biz Live Cycle Delight the winner of its annual $50K prize Friday. Hatch works to help local retail and restaurant businesses open brick-and-mortar storefronts in Detroit. 2015 winner Live Cycle Delight wants to open a storefront in the city.

Part of the plan includes a cycling studio for in-house classes. Currently, Live Cycle's owners Amina Daniels and Jackie Palmer conduct Wednesday bike rides at Capitol Square Park, Dequindre Cut and the RiverWalk. The storefront they want to build with the prize money will help them to grow the existing business, allowing them to add fitness classes, more cycling meet-up rides, and a bike lounge.

In their acceptance statement, Live Cycle Detroit writes "As Detroit grows, it's important we acknowledge the increase in residents, restaurants, and local shopping in downtown Detroit. With over 20 miles of bike lanes in downtown and midtown Detroit, and over 80 bicycles passing key blocks every hour, the need and inherent demand for an indoor cycling studio that supports local cyclists is evident."

Native Detroiter Nick Gorga founded Hatch in 2011, after moving back to the city from Chicago. The Hatch Detroit contest, built on what the group calls "crowd entrepreneurship," solicits public votes on the contestants, and allows the community to decide which businesses can best serve its needs. Since the program's inception, four winners have been chosen, and a total of 12 businesses operated by Hatch finalists have opened in in the city. The first four winners of Hatch Detroit include Cass Ave home design store Hugh and tapas restaurant La Feria, Corktown's Batch Brewing Company, and Sister Pie (on Kercheval St in Detroit).

·Live Cycle Delight wins $50,000 in Hatch Detroit contest [Detroit Free Press]
·About Hatch Detroit [Hatch Detroit]
·Bohomodern's Barry Among Finalists for $50K Grant [Curbed Detroit]
·Live Cycle Delight [Live Cycle Delight]