Nine13sports Expanding Out-of-State

(photo courtesy of Nine13sports)

Indianapolis-based Nine13sports has announced continued growth plans for its Kids Riding Bikes programs outside of Indiana. The nonprofit says it plans to launch its school-based programs, which promotes fitness among youth, in Minneapolis in September 2017.

The Kids Riding Bikes program features in-school operations serving K-12 students. The organization brings in its stationary bicycle simulators which are integrated into the schools’ physical education curriculum. 

This is the second out-of-state expansion for Nine13sports, which launched in Portland, Oregon in 2015. Chief Executive Officer Tom Hanley says expansion into new markets has always been part of the nonprofit’s long-term business model.

"Minneapolis is an exhilarating city and a peer to Indianapolis in just about every data point, in addition to being a place with a culture of health and fitness and a genuine love of bicycling," said Hanley. "We look forward to working with both the corporate and philanthropic aspects of the community to serve thousands of youth as part of our school-based Kids Riding Bikes program delivery."

The organization says Charlie Warner, who currently serves as director of the Portland-based affiliate overseeing Nine13sports Northwest, will move to Minneapolis to serve as executive director for that market. Hanley says the expansion is being funded by "new dollars with targeted support specifically for Minneapolis" and will not affect funding to the organization’s other markets.

The Nine13sports headquarters will remain in Indianapolis and Hanley says they plan to serve tens of thousands of children in the Indy area in 2017. Hanley spoke about the Kids Riding Bikes program on Inside INdiana Business Television in June.