$60,000 in funding will help Michigan businesses develop and implement transportation programs
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Employment and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has awarded $60,000 in grants to help three businesses develop and implement transportation programs to help improve employee retention, productivity and access to work.
The Reliable Rides Incentive Grant Pilot Program, built on the recently released Reliable Rides Playbook: Connecting Workers to Jobs, is designed to help Michigan businesses solve workforce transportation challenges.
“Getting into work shouldn’t be the hardest part of a person’s job – that’s why we created the Reliable Rides playbook and the Incentive Grant program,” he said. Stephanie Beckhorn, Assistant Director of the LEO Office of Recruitment and Training. “Transportation has been cited as a major barrier to employment. This new funding program will help Michiganders overcome transportation challenges, giving them the opportunity to secure good-paying jobs.”
Selected through a Request for Proposals process, the three grant recipients expressed an interest in supporting the transportation needs of their employees and are committed to implementing a Reliable Rides program based on playbook models. Each of the three selected donors will receive a $20,000 award to support a custom transportation program for their employees.
“Recipients of Reliable Rides grants will develop programs that include strong local partnerships with transportation providers and community organizations,” it said. Director of LEO’s Office of Economic Reform Luke Forrest. “This unique investment will provide real-world support to address the transportation challenges facing Michigan’s workforce, supporting employers who will benefit from a stable and reliable workforce.”
Grant recipients are Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church of Flint, in partnership with NorthGate; LM Manufacturing of Detroit; and Manthei Wood Products of Petoskey.
Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church will launch the Pathways to Work transportation project in partnership with package manufacturer NorthGate. This program is designed to reduce barriers to work for Flint residents by providing shuttle service on consistent routes that connect key areas and major job corridors. The initiative will coordinate employer-sponsored vanpools, provide emergency boarding guarantees, and provide access to employment services, including transportation planning for employers.
“At Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church, we believe that access to opportunity begins with access to transportation,” he said Rev. Dr. Rabon L. Turner, Sr. “We are proud to be part of this important pilot program – because when people are able to enter the workforce, families are strengthened, community is built, and dignity is restored. Since we realize that transportation is not a way of comfort but a way of life, we are proud to stand with this project and walk with our neighbors on the way to strengthen the economy.”
LM Manufacturing will implement the Vehicle Repair Assessment and Acquisition Assistance Program, providing one-time financial assistance for critical vehicle repairs to help employees maintain reliable transportation to work. Serving up to 40 employees, with built-in support for each participant, this program aims to solve transport-related problems, help people facing financial difficulties or other limited means of travel, and strengthen stability and job retention through improved mobility.
“At LM Manufacturing, we believe that taking care of our people is the foundation of operational excellence,” it said. Sylvester Hester, CEO of LM Manufacturing. “Reliable transportation isn’t just a convenience — it’s critical to sustainability, stability and opportunity for our employees.” This grant allows us to live our 5C: showing Care to our employees, Committing to their success, strengthening our communication skills, improving communication with access and reliability, and finally giving us more opportunities to celebrate with our Michigan team directly. members and strengthen our community. ”
Manthei Wood Products will implement an expanded vanpooling program to enhance transportation efficiency and reliability for workers commuting to work. The initiative includes the addition of a chartered passenger car to provide daily transportation for at least 10 employees, with the potential to serve additional employees across Manthei Wood Products and Aster Brands. The program aims to improve access to jobs, reduce absenteeism and absenteeism, and support the long-term stability of the workforce through reliable means of transportation.
“We are very grateful for this help,” he said Abe Manthei, Mission Director at Manthei Wood Products. “This presents an excellent opportunity for us to provide transportation to work for our employees who do not have cars.”
Helping workers overcome transportation barriers has been a priority for the Michigan Workforce Development Board.
“The Michigan Workforce Development Board remains committed to helping Michiganders find the transportation they need to get to work and pursue additional education and training to advance in their careers,” it said. Jessica Brousseau, Executive Director of the Michigan Workforce Development Board and Director of Human Resources at LEO. “The board’s recent initiatives include launching the One Step Unlock grant program to support workers, students and apprentices in the repair and purchase of vehicles and publishing a resource guide for employers to assist workers facing transportation challenges, including workers with disabilities.
“Solving transportation barriers will require people across the country to work together, and the Board is excited to see employers commit to trying new solutions through the Reliable Rides program,” said Brousseau.
Reliable Transportation: Connecting Workers and Jobs playbook is a new employer-focused tool designed to help businesses create transportation programs that improve employee confidence, retention and productivity. The free, easy-to-use guide provides businesses with proven transportation options that are already working across the country.
Unlike other transportation programs, Reliable Rides is built around the employer and is designed to help businesses launch, implement and scale transportation solutions as part of their workforce strategy.
“Almost any company in Michigan can benefit from the transportation tools in the Reliable Rides playbook,” he said. MI Auto Workforce Hub Director Amanda Lawrence. “We encourage all employers to check it out.”
To view the Reliable Transportation: Connecting Workers to Jobs playbook and learn more about LEO’s workforce mobility efforts, visit Michigan.gov/AutoWorkforceHub.
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