St. Lucie Battery & Tire of Ft. Pierce, Fla., has been named the first recipient in ASA Tire Systems' $1 million dealer bailout program.
ASA President Wayne Croswell says the six-store dealership was a worthy recipient due to its "commitment to strengthening (its) community over the past three decades."
St. Lucie Battery & Tire operates in an economically depressed area that's plagued by one of the country's highest foreclosure rates, as well as 12% unemployment, note ASA officials.
"St. Lucie Battery & Tire exists in one of the hardest hit communities in America," Croswell explains. "The heart of our program is to help strengthen tire dealers' businesses in areas where it is needed most.
"By granting them funding to improve their technology, St. Lucie Battery & Tire can improve (its) business infrastructure... they are the heart of what this bailout program is all about."
The dealership sponsors a variety of organizations, including the local 4-H Club, and was a major force behind the revitalization of downtown Ft. Pierce.
Tire dealers can apply for bailout funds via ASA's Web site, http://www.asatire.com/bailout, or by contacting an ASA representative.
