Rural Health Network of South Central New York awarded grant funding for transportation program

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Rural Health Network of South Central New York in Binghamton will use a $150,000 federal grant for its GetThere Transportation to Employment program.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) on Wednesday approved a grant of $150,000. In addition to ARC funds, state sources will provide $150,000, bringing the total project funding to $300,000, per an ARC news release.

About the program

The GetThere Transportation to Employment program will provide short-term transportation help for people 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 who 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 can use 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 for 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.

Those involved work to keep the cost of transportation “to a minimum” by using shared transportation, which is split between the GetThere Transportation to Employment program, employers, and passengers, ARC said.

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