West
Side Wheels is planning to expand its
location to 286 Grant St. by early spring.
West
Side Wheels, a business under On the Job Ministries, salvages, repairs and resells bikes to residents in the West Side
at affordable costs. The main goal of West Side Wheels is to create more jobs
for the youth in the West Side.
The business has been operating for five years inside New to You, a thrift store on 289
Grant St. Kim
Deflyer, executive director of On the Job Ministries, said the expansion was
made possible by PUSH Buffalo through a grant program that provides funds to
local businesses.
“Our focus is job training for youth.
[We try] to provide opportunities for youth who would might not otherwise get
an opportunity to learn how to fix a bike,” said Rebecca
Ballard, assistant to New To You.
Ballard said
that there is a need for a full-service bike shop in the West Side.
“We want to provide jobs that
are meaningful and that are needed," Ballard said. "It’s intentional that we’re providing a
bike shop, as supposed to another service that already exists or isn’t as much
of a need for here.” By Dayna Francis and Tyeisha Prior
