$1.6M grant moves workforce transportation forward

FILE PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY Bath Iron Works, Robbins Lumber, Gagne Foods, and TimberHP will receive funding for transportation initiatives to build and retain their workforce.

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By Alexis Wells

Four companies are sharing $1.6 million in grants to support employers with workforce transportation solutions, including TimberHP, a building products company that will build an electric vehicle transportation hub.

TimberHP’s $750,000 grant will also be used to purchase electric vehicles for an employee rideshare system at the Madison company.

Other grantees include Bath Iron Works, Gagne Foods in Bath and Robbins Lumber in Searsmont.

Bath Iron Works' $750,000 award will support carpools and vanpools for employees, public transportation options in the region, and multi-mode parking amenities.

The $59,840 award to Gagne Foods will help support transportation options for employees in inclement weather and make several electric bicycles available for employees to take to and from work.

Robbins Lumber’s $41,600 award will help offset the costs of an existing program that provides transportation for employees from a nearby correctional institute.

The program aligns with the Workforce Transportation Pilot from Maine Won’t Wait, the state's four-year plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting public transportation to combat climate change.

The grants, administered by the Maine Department of Transportation, are part of the Workforce Transportation Pilot Program, an initiative of Gov. Janet Mills’ Jobs Plan. The project supports local and regional pilot projects that connect workers to employers through ridesharing, vanpools and other transit options.

“Maine employers large and small are struggling with workforce challenges,” said Bruce Van Note, commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. “These awards support several unique approaches to addressing the specific workforce transportation challenges seen by these employers.”

Applications for the Workforce Transportation Pilot program are open and about $3 million remains to be awarded. For more information on how to apply, click here.