Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) awarded $800,000 in funding to 23 community-based nonprofits to expand access to transportation to disabled, senior and limited-income residents through the Targeted and Specialized Mobility (TSM) Grant Program. The TSM Capital Grant program awarded $640,000 for capital projects to a total of 17 nonprofit organizations that serve priority populations within their communities. The grants will fund capital investments to increase access to transportation services for vulnerable community members.
With the grants, organizations will be able to purchase or modify vehicles to accommodate wheelchairs or other specialized medical equipment or to deliver food, medicine and other critical supplies to residents. Funding for the first-time grants comes from the Transportation Services Improvement Fund. The grants were authorized by the County Council in the Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget.
“With more than 500,000 residents living with disabilities, and a senior population that is expected to increase by more than 35 percent over the next 15 years, we rely on community partnerships to help us provide transportation solutions that are flexible, forward-thinking and adaptive,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Community organizations often serve as a lifeline to marginalized residents, connecting them to employment, medical care, vital services and social opportunities. These grants will allow them to expand the work they are able to do.”
An additional $160,000 was awarded through the TSM Operating Grant Program to six nonprofit organizations. The funding from these grants will support the day-to-day operating costs associated with increasing access to transportation assistance.
“Small community-based nonprofits have the potential to significantly increase transportation options for disabled individuals, seniors and low-income residents,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “By prioritizing funding toward these organizations, MCDOT can ensure that a broad spectrum of community needs is met and that transportation barriers are removed.”
The TSM Capital Grant awardees:
- Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, Inc.: $30,000
- Community Options, Inc.: $28,590
- Community Support Services, Inc.: $45,000
- Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Inc.: $24,970
- Identity of Maryland, Inc. AKA Identity, Inc.: $45,000
- Jewish Social Service Agency: $24,970
- Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association, Inc.: $40,000
- Organizations for Advancement of and Service for Individuals with Special Needs (OASIS), Inc.: $32,998
- SEEC Corporation: $30,000
- Small Things Matter, Inc.: $30,000
- The Foundation Schools: $45,000
- The Rock Creek Foundation for Mental Health, Inc.: $44,000
- The Senior Connection of Montgomery County, Inc.: $45,000
- TLC-The Treatment and Learning Centers: $39,472
- Unified Community Connections, Inc.: $45,000
- Vietnamese American Services: $45,000
- Winter Growth, Inc.: $45,000
The TSM Operational Grant Awardees:
- Mary’s Center for Maternal & Child Care, Inc.: $30,000
- Mid-County United Ministries, Inc.: $14,960
- Opportunities, Inc.: $25,040
- Rainbow Community Development Center, Inc.: $30,000
- The Arc of Montgomery County: $30,000
- The Community Clinic, Inc.: $30,000
For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.
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