A professional from the BMX circuit has gotten a state grant to help bankroll his dream of building bikes.
Bicycle Motocross pro Rick Moliterno plans to start making BMX bikes in Davenport. The Iowa Economic Development Board has given the BMX pro a $50,000 state grant for the project.
Moliterno’s company — called Standard Byke Manufacturing — plans to hire 10 people as it goes into production of its new BMX styles, which will be made with a new metal alloy.
Moliterno has been in business for 15 years and in a news release he said his goal is to "aggressively pursue new product development."
Moliterno, who is 42 years old, was born in Davenport and notes that his first bike was a purple Sears Spider. His next was a Schwinn Stingray with a leopard-print banana seat. He competed in his first pro race in 1981.