
WILMINGTON — Cape Fear Public Transit Authority (WAVE Transit) has $70,000 in grant funds available in 2018, and eligible organizations have one week left to submit applications.
Given the area’s growing population, WAVE Transit is the authorized authority to implement an Elderly and Disabled Transportation program under Chapter 49 U.S.C. Section 5310 to accommodate an underserved population.
The funding was allocated “for the purpose of assisting private nonprofit groups in meeting the transportation needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities when the transportation service provided is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meeting these needs,” according to WAVE Transit’s project management plan of 2015.
Programs eligible to receive the funding include non-profit organizations, state or local government authorities or private operators of public transportation according to the application.
Goals of the program according to the application include:
- to improve mobility for older adults and people with disabilities
- to enhance coordination of federally assisted programs
- to coordinate transportation services
- to afford elderly persons and persons with disabilities the availability of transportation which they can effectively utilize
The deadline for the application is Jan. 5, 2018. Applicants will be notified of selection in March 2018 and funding will be released in July.
Johanna Ferebee can be reached at johanna@localvoicemedia.com or @j__ferebee on Twitter