Page 31 - BusinessWest May 26, 2025

Ninja >>Continued from page 29
And that’s very good for us as parents, too.”
As for the community element, franchises have
become involved, through fundraisers and other activi-
ties, with organizations like school PTAs and PTOs,
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, 4-H, the American Can-
cer Society, Best Buddies, and many more.
“It’s really part of our nature to do those things on
a regular basis,” Knight said. “So people who tend to
be owners really like the family aspect of it, working
with children, and the local give-back. That’s what’s
unique about our business model, unlike a fast-food
restaurant where you can make good money, but may
not make the same kinds of relationships.”
Olympic Dreams
The latest development that has Knight and Grant
excited is the elevation of obstacle course racing
to the Summer Olympics, starting in 2028 in Los
Angeles.
Specifically, it’s now part of the pentathlon, replac-
ing equestrian show jumping. A few years ago, the
International Olympic Committee evaluated a whop-
ping 62 proposals to replace that event before decid-
ing on a ninja-style obstacle course. The other four
pentathlon events remain swimming, fencing, pistol
shooting, and running.
Knight and Grant both believe this development
will further legitimize the sport, providing both oppor-
tunities for kids to get fit — particularly those who
don’t enjoy traditional youth sports — while boosting
the profile of USA Ninja Challenge. Knight expects
the number of franchises to reach around 90 within a
year.
“We have a partnership with U.S. Olympics,” he
told BusinessWest. “We run competitions for our kids,
and top athletes get to train with Olympic coaches in
the summer. We’re the only one that has a program
like that because we have a curriculum that’s all about
progression training for kids.”
The company has also been involved with the
Junior Olympics program, offering ideas to help cre-
ate a pathway for kids to compete for the Olympics in
this sport. And it is growing worldwide. The Ultimate
Ninja Athlete Assoc. saw about 10,000 kids from 23
countries at its championship in Anaheim, Calif. last
year — a tenfold increase from 2023.
And when the Olympics added the sport to its pen-
tathlon, 160 countries immediately signed on — the
biggest adoption of any sport introduced to the Olym-
pics, Knight said.
He’s equally excited about the potential of this
growing youth activity to get kids active and in shape,
a particular concern in this era of copious screen
time. An article on the USA Ninja Challenge website
touts several studies linking youth fitness to better
performance at school as well.
In short, he said, the benefits are manifold, and for
Western Mass., they will also include that community
element he spoke of, as well as job creation.
“We need people to work with kids and provide
kids with a positive, safe environment to develop,” he
told BusinessWest, adding that there will be a need
for coaches, managers, and other positions at the new
gyms when they start to open up in this region next
year. “It’s remarkable the positive impact this can have
on the community.” BW
Franklin >>Continued from page 30
cials — will identify two or three priority projects
in each district, help guide the downtown district
coordinator, and inform long-term planning.
“This project is an exciting opportunity to plug
in additional administrative capacity to enhance
regional collaboration and downtown vibrancy
and test a replicable regional model for economic
growth,” said Jessye Deane, executive director of
the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce &
Regional Tourism Council. “This is a great, low-
risk opportunity to pilot a regional coordination
model and give our downtowns a measurable
boost.”
Deane said the downtown district coordinator’s
work will be guided by input from local stakehold-
ers to ensure that projects reflect each commu-
nity’s unique vision and needs. The DWGs will
also help determine how to best leverage available
resources and identify new opportunities for fund-
ing downtown projects.
“The Franklin County CDC is excited to work
with the chamber and FRCOG on this project.
We work one-on-one with many businesses in the
area to strengthen their business plans and work
with them on marketing, operations, and finances.
We provide capital when appropriate,” said John
Waite, executive director of the FCCDC. “We also
know that each individual business is stronger
when the other neighboring businesses are stron-
ger. This project will help businesses and vested
stakeholders work together and use their various
strengths to make each downtown greater than
the sum of its parts.” BW
Together, We
Make a Difference
that Adds Up.
At MBK, we are not only experienced in
navigating the complicated auditing, budgeting,
and accounting needs of nonprofits—we are
also committed strategic partners in helping
you achieve your big-picture goals.
4 1 3 - 5 3 6 - 8 5 1 0 | m b k c p a . c o m
Business W est << COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE >>
MAY 26, 2025
31