Program areas at Blackstone Bicycle Works
Link up Illinois provides funding, training, and technical support to farmers markets food cooperatives, mobile markets, corner stores, and other venues selling locally grown produce to implement link match at their venues. Link match matches The value of snap/link purchases, allowing recipients to receive up to $25 of free fruits and vegetables per transaction at farmers markets and $5 per day in grocery settings.
Blackstone bicycle works provides youth education in a bike shop setting. In 2023, blackstone bicycle works offered free mechanic training, free bicycles, internships, college and career advising, and college/vocational school scholarships.
The 61st street farmers market was created in 2008 to bring healthy food and food education to The woodlawn community. A leader in Illinois in serving a low-income population, The market accepts snap/illinois 'link', doubles The value of snap/link purchases with link match, and offers year-round at-market, in-school, after-school, and adult food education. In 2023, The 61st street farmers market offered 25 outdoor and 10 indoor market days, providing access to some of The healthiest foods in The region (grown and produced by more than 30 local growers and producers) to over 500 snap/link clients.