Rich Stianche, owner of Dn’A Bikes in Tamaqua, is a man with a plan.

Actually, he has several plans, all designed to enhance the community he has embraced. The only thing missing is the cold, hard cash needed to bring those plans to life.

So, when he was at the FedEx website and saw a post about the company’s grant program for small businesses, he decided to apply.

“I was looking for some shipping information and saw they were accepting applications for grants from small-business owners,” says Stianche. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try, so I applied.”

A total of 10 grants will be awarded, with the largest prize being $50,000 along with $7,500 in FedEx support. Second place is for $30,000 and $5,000 in FedEx Support, while there are eight third-place prizes for $15,000 and $1,000 in support and business services.

Stianche and his wife, Jen, opened the business in Tamaqua in 2013, offering custom built bikes, top of the line accessories and a repair service. The shop offers a wide array of bicycle frames, including aluminum, steel, carbon fiber and even titanium. Bicycles are high quality, light and range from single speed to 30 speed.

In addition to running the store, Stianche is very active in the community, serving on the board of the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce. He has also been a big factor in caring for many of biking/hiking trails in the Tamaqua Area, especially at the Owl Creek Reservoir.

Stianche told FedEx, “We are a bicycle sales/repair store that also focuses on running and fitness by offering classes of all kinds to help inform our customers. As a bicycle store that has a focus in running and overall fitness, we feel that if you aren’t integrated into the community then you’re missing the point.

“Our main goal is to help improve our area’s knowledge about a healthier lifestyle by getting active. We hold classes on running, cycling, trail building and nutrition and nothing pleases us more than to see that put into use. We don’t sell bicycles, we sell adventure and the bike is there to take you on it.”

His ideas are to expand the shop’s offerings to include ski and snowboard tuning and waxing.

“There are a lot of local people interested in skiing who have to go to the Poconos or Palmerton for equipment or repairs. I’d like to save them from having to run all over the place by offering such services here.”

He would also like to purchase the building he’s in to become a hybrid bicycle shop by opening up a coffee shop to go along with the current set up. The grant money will also help him hold more classes and build more trails for community use.

Voting is now open for the contest, and can help Stianche reach his goal. Voting will be open only until April 1 at https://bit.ly/2HA6pQI.

You may vote once a day until the deadline.

The top 100 will be announced on April 5, with the winners announced on April 29.