PUSD receives clean mobility option grant

Porterville Unified School District has received a $48,802 grant as part of a pilot program providing transportation needs assessment vouchers.

The Clean Mobility Options Program has awarded 24 grants totaling $1.15 million in California. The grants have been awarded to non-profit organizations, school districts, local governments, transit agencies and Native American Tribes.

The PUSD grant is described as a Climate Action Pathway. The grants are designed for the entities to identify and address transportation challenges faced by residents in their communities.

“Across California, and especially in lowincome communities and communities of color, people spend too much time and money getting from home to work, or just to do daily errands,” Program Deputy Executive Officer Steve Cliff said. “The Clean Mobility Options Program elevates the role communities play, and allows them to lead the way in addressing their particular transportation issues — and ultimately finding solutions that work for them.”

Of the grants, $1 million was awarded to eligible communities and $150,000 was set aside for Native American tribes.

The grants are designed for under-resourced communities to help residents save money and improve public health.

Clean Mobility Options is a statewide initiative that provides funding for zero-emission shared mobility options to under-resourced communities in California. CMO is available throughout California to eligible communities, as well as eligible low-income tribal and affordablehousing communities to increase access to safe, reliable, convenient and affordable transportation options. For eligibility requirements, application information and to contact the technical assistance team, visit: www. cleanmobilityoptions.org.

Awardees of the Community Transportation Needs Assessment funds submitted applications for projects to help them identify and understand the unmet mobility needs of their communities and develop solutions in collaboration with residents. Key elements of a Community Transportation Needs Assessment include analysis and engagement of the community through tools like surveys and virtual community events.

CMO also supports the implementation of shared clean mobility projects through Mobility Project Vouchers worth up to $1 million each. Of the total $21 million available for Clean Mobility Projects and Community Transportation Needs Assessments, up to $2.15 million is set aside specifically for tribes.

The application [period for Mobility Project Vouchers opens on October 20 at 9 a.m. Applications will be processed and approved on a first-come, firstserved basis. Mobility Project Vouchers will fund bikesharing and scooter-sharing, zeroemission carsharing, carpooling and vanpooling, innovative transit services and ride-on-demand services. For complete application submission instructions visit the “How” section of the Application Materials page at cleanmobilityoptions.org