Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, Inc. officially launched its newest workforce development program Good Rides on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Good Rides is a workforce development program designed to help individuals facing transportation barriers getting to and from work. The Toledo-based Goodwill organization purchased a shuttle bus to help with the widespread transportation issue, and participants enrolled in the program will work with navigators to identify their barriers. Once identified, the navigators will create plans to overcome the challenges in order to become transportation independent.
Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio is currently working with area employers on the program, and the launch will involve Whitmer High School interns working at Rosenboom, located in Bowling Green, OH. Students will leave directly from Whitmer High School to Rosenboom and will be returned to school following their shift.
“This really is an exciting program. We have been talking with area employers and people we serve for quite some time, and transportation has frequently been mentioned as a challenging barrier to employment,” said Amy Wachob, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio. “We are anticipating that the Good Rides program will make a significant impact on eliminating a workplace barrier.” Wachob further states, “It is important to note that this is not a public transportation program, this is a workforce development program. Its design and intent is to work with individuals one-on-one and provide a lasting workplace solution. We are very encouraged by the depth of interest from both the people we serve as well as area employers. We have already been asked to increase our fleet!”
Watch: Goodwill provides transportation to get Whitmer High students to jobs at Rosenboom plant
This blog originally appeared in the Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio blog. Read the blog.
