History
This is the story of how Chain Reaction Bicycle Project got started.
Tom Benevento had the initial vision to create a community bicycle shop with integrated programs that offer fair wage, bicycle-related employment opportunities in Goshen, Indiana. Benevento’s original bike shop was run out of a garage in downtown Goshen.
Soon the organization out-grew the garage and relocated to a small former restaurant on West Jefferson Street in Goshen.
Former Employees of Goshen Re-Cycles recycling collection service
A significant program of CRBP was Goshen Re-Cycles, a bicycle-powered curbside recycling pick-up service started by Tom B. CRBP hired local men and women to work one half-day per week to collect recycling from Goshen Re-Cycles customers. With a mission to offer fairly-paid employment to people who had a hard time keeping a regular job or who were otherwise unemployed, the Re-Cycles employees rode bicycles pulling 8-ft. long aluminum trailers to transport bins filled with recyclables. After emptying the bins, employees would collect more recycling from more customers.
In November of 2012 Chain Reaction Bicycle Project, Inc. moved to our current location at 510 East Washington Street in Goshen.
Repair stands in the center of the Chain Reaction shop workroom.
During 2013, as the local economy began to significantly improve, a commercial competitor brought city-wide curb-side recycling collection service to Goshen. Therefore, the Goshen Re-Cycles program of CRBP came to a natural end, and the board, staff and volunteers turned their full attention to running the bike shop and educational programs.
Current staff and board members include Kathy, executive director, Sawyer, shop manager, and board members Jeremy, Tyler and Jared.