Santa Cruz today release news that they have extended their historical trail support to create the Paydirt fund that launches worldwide today.
Pete caught up with Santa Cruz’s Seb Kemp about the launch of their new worldwide trail support initiative, Paydirt.
What made you want to give more trail groups the opportunity to access funding?
This is not something that’s new to SCB. We started in a garage here in Santa Cruz, CA and soon we were supporting the good people the founders met. Our network of people was small at first but as our sphere of influence grew we found ourselves riding with more people that inspired us to help their causes and organisations. PayDirt is the logical next step to connecting with more people.
Are you looking to support as many groups as possible, or to find the right group or initiative to back?
It could be both. It’s all dependent on the proposals and applications that come in.
Is this a US-only initiative or can anyone apply?
Worldwide.
Is $1 million available on top of your existing commitments to trail organisations?
A lot of our long-standing commitments are things that are baked into who we are as a company, so this is about adding to that mix.
Why now?
We couldn’t have done this before. We’re fortunate that we’re able to make this commitment but it’s only because we’re a successful, stable business. PayDirt is a way to bake in our commitment to supporting the communities and culture of mountain biking in a way that ensures longevity and consistency for the activity we love.
How do you go about vetting the applications?
The application portal is open all year round. One person previews them all (perhaps asking for more information), then the PayDirt committee meets every three months to review the best ones and award the right ones.
What are the challenges involved in supporting trail organisations as a brand?
Doing enough. It’s often hard to get the immediate needs of the business accomplished so that we can do the things that’s right for the society we service. Which is why PayDirt is as much about elevating the priority of supporting people and organizations into what we do day-to-day. It’s about us challenging what the role of a business is.
Sure, a business is fundamentally about supplying the demand for goods and services in return for being rewarded resources ($) but what if a business did that AND helped redistribute some of those resources back into society to build a better place, in this trails or access to them?
Favourite moments so far?
I’ll answer that after Tuesday when the applications start coming in. I’m genuinely excited to see what’s out there and what we can help people do.
Any disasters?
Never any disasters. That’s not how these things work. The people we’ve supported are pro and that’s precisely why we support them. We get half baked proposals from time to time and it’s easy to wean them out or help them think through the project a little more.
Where next for PayDirt?
Let’s get this one out the door before we talk next steps.
