The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has unveiled a new fund to support workers and job seekers who are facing transportation barriers that affect their ability to get hired or maintain current jobs.
The “Let’s Get to Work Fund” will open with a $375,000 committment from CFO, as well as donors David and Stacey O’Reilly, and the O’Reilly Charity Golf Classic Fund with another $25,000 in anticipated commitments.
The new progam was announced during an event at Penmac Staffing in downtown Springfield Wednesday.
Organizers say the fund will provide support for both employed and unemployed people through two avenues:
- Nonprofits that work with clients who identify transportation issues as impeding their ability to get and keep jobs can access funds through CFO’s grant application process at cfozarks.org/applyforgrants.
- Businesses will also be able to access funds to support workers facing transportation challenges through a partnership with United Way of the Ozarks and the Springfield Business Development Corporation, which is a nonprofit subsidiary of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
Eligibility for funding covers a 14 county area of southwest Missouri where the services areas of the CFO and the United Way of the Ozarks overlap, including Barry, Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Laclede, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright Counties.
CFO says individuals cannot apply to the fund for direct assistance.
The funds will be granted to nonprofits that include case management as part of their services and to the SBDC to fulfill requests from employers.
The money can be used for needs such as car repairs, new tires, gasoline cards, licensing fees or taxes, transportation services such as bus passes, ride-sharing services, taxis, purchase or repair of bikes/e-bikes, or vehicle purchase down payments.