March 23, 2022
Seven agencies join 11 others providing transportation-related assistance to job seekers
Seven agencies have received grants from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to reduce transportation-related barriers to employment. This second round of grants from the Let’s Get to Work Fund, totaling $90,000, will support assistance for individuals from the following agencies:
- City of Springfield’s Department of Workforce Development: $30,000 to assist job seekers in the Missouri Job Center’s Ozark Region, which serves Greene, Christian, Dallas, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties;
- Community Outreach Ministries: $6,000 to assist individuals in Polk County with a focus on its Pathways program;
- Developmental Center of the Ozarks: $6,000 to assist participants of its employment services program in Greene and Christian counties;
- Flourish CDC: $5,000 to assist individuals in Springfield participating in its Coach House or Life Change Plan programs;
- Freedom’s Rest Family Violence Center: $20,000 to assist victims of domestic and sexual violence in Barry, Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Lawrence, Ozark, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties;
- House of Hope: $20,000 to assist individuals in Stone and Taney counties; and
- West Central Missouri Community Action Agency: $3,000 to assist individuals in Hickory County.
Individuals cannot apply to the CFO directly, but can work with these agencies to receive assistance for transportation-related needs. Businesses can access funds through the Springfield Business Development Corporation, a nonprofit subsidiary of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit cfozarks.org/transportation.
Nonprofits that work with clients who identify transportation issues as impeding their ability to get and keep jobs can access funds through the CFO’s grant application process at cfozarks.org/applyforgrants. Grant applications will be reviewed and approved on an ongoing basis until funds are depleted. Donors can help extend this program by donating to the Let’s Get to Work Fund at cfozarks.org/donate.
To apply for a grant from the Let’s Get to Work Fund, agencies must be within the 14-county area of southwest Missouri where the service areas of the CFO and United Way of the Ozarks overlap: Barry, Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Laclede, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright counties.
Funds 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.
