WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Appalachian Regional Commission announced today approval of a grant in the amount of $150,000 to the Rural Health Network of South Central New York for the GetThere Transportation to Employment Program.

The Rural Health Network of SCNY serves Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, and Tioga Counties.

The GetThere Transportation to Employment Program will provide short-term transportation assistance to individuals who are not able to afford the cost of transportation at the beginning of employment. GetThere is primarily a referral based program that works with county social service, workforce development, and human service agencies to assist individuals that are unable to afford the initial cost of transportation to work.

While individuals build their earnings to cover transportation costs, the program will work with each participant to identify and establish a long-term, sustainable plan to get to and from work.

Each program participant is able to utilize up to $500 in transportation assistance while building their earnings to cover the cost of transportation. Assistance is provided in the form of bus passes, private rides, a network of volunteer drivers, and fuel cards, which are used to cover the cost of gas to get to and from work in a personal vehicle or through a carpool. The coordinator, supported by the GetThere program director, will provide outreach, education, and training to agencies on the program, program benefits, and referral process.

GetThere will work with employers to help broaden their labor pool and increase attendance and retention related to lack of or limited transportation, saving businesses valuable time and resources. The cost of transportation is able to be kept to a minimum by utilizing shared transportation which is split between TEP, employers, and passengers.

In addition to ARC funds, state sources will provide $150,000, bringing the total project funding to $300,000.

About the Appalachian Regional Commission:

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian region.

The ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia and help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. More information is available at www.arc.gov.

-from GetThere Mobility Management