File photo / Tim Greenway
Bruce Van Note, commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation
May 19, 2022
$5M pilot program to help Mainers with long commutes to work
The Maine Department of Transportation is launching a $5 million pilot program to get working Mainers to far-away jobs via ride share, vanpool and other subsidized transit options.
An initiative of Gov. Janet Mills' Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, the Workforce Transportation Pilot Program is being set up to pursue and develop transportation solutions that connect workers with employers across Maine. It comes at a time when employers are having to look further afield to find employees, workers struggle to find jobs close to home and gas prices continue to rise.
The program will provide competitive grants of up to $750,000 to local and regional partnerships to pilot ways to connect workers and employers through ridesharing, vanpools, and other subsidized transit options.
"Many Maine employers are looking for workers while many Maine people are struggling to connect to available employment opportunities," said Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note. "These funds will allow MaineDOT to work with our partners across the state to identify challenges and develop solutions to address workforce transportation challenges all over Maine."
"Increasing access to reliable transportation is a key element of boosting workforce participation in Maine," said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. "This new pilot program will ensure that more Mainers are able to get to work."
Courtesy / Maine Department of Labor
Laura Fortman
Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said, "A key barrier for many Mainers looking for work is reliable transportation — especially in rural communities where workers may need to travel farther distances to available jobs matching their goals and skill sets," said "This is an exciting opportunity for employers to work creatively and collaboratively to attract and retain workers both inside and outside their immediate areas."
In administering the program, the Maine Department of Transportation' planning bureau will review and select projects based on merit and funding availability. Funds may be used for capital and operating costs, including program start-up costs.
'More money in workers' pockets'
Matt Schlobohm, executive director of the Maine AFL-CIO, welcomed the initiative.
"Effective and efficient transportation systems are crucial to strengthening Maine's economy and supporting working people," he said. "Transportation solutions from the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan will put more money in workers' pockets and strengthen Maine's economy."
Laura Dolce, executive director of the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce, said, "Access to reliable transportation can often be a challenge for workers looking for job opportunities in Maine's tourism and hospitality industry," she said. "As hotels, restaurants, and retail shops continue to navigate workforce shortages, we need new transportation solutions to ensure that people can get to work. We welcome the creation of this important new initiative."
Further details
There is no application deadline for the pilot program; the bureau will accept, evaluate, and make decisions on grant applications on an ongoing, rolling basis until all funds have been disbursed.
More program details and application information are available here.
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