Over the past two weeks, representatives from RIDE Solutions had been present at two events in the Martinsville/Henry County area for the purpose of promoting the RIDE Solutions brand by articulating to area companies and the general public the program’s value. On the afternoons and evenings of March 5th and 6th, we occupied a table at Fast Track 2019, an annual trade show hosted by the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, located at the former Sears store at the Village of Martinsville shopping center. And on the morning of March 12th, we were present at the Job & Resource Fair held at New College Institute.
At both events, RIDE Solutions representatives networked with numerous businesses in the area. In doing so, we learned that many of these businesses were having issues with regard to employees being able to get to work. Staffing agencies also expressed significant interest in the RIDE Solutions program, as some of their clients lacked reliable transportation to access employment. RIDE Solutions was able to ultimately make excellent contacts with human resources staff and other company representatives to whom we will be able to quickly follow up. Among the general public, we had multiple guests visit our table who stated that they did not have issues with transportation, but they knew others who did. Through our contacts, we learned of another job fair that is scheduled to take place in the City of Danville in May, and we plan to be present at that event to promote the RIDE Solutions program to employers and employees of the Danville-Pittsylvania County area.
If you represent a business whose employees have difficulty getting to work due to lack of reliable transportation, or if you have difficulty filling open positions because of mobility issues, RIDE Solutions could be your solution. Also, if you are an employee without reliable transportation to work or you would like to access employment but have not been able to do so due to lack of reliable transportation, we may also be your solution! We are an excellent regional resource providing ride-matching services to those who wish to carpool, and we promote vanpooling, transit, bicycling and walking (where feasible), and telecommuting. I, Joe Bonanno, am the regional coordinator of RIDE Solutions for the West Piedmont Planning District, and can be reached at [email protected] or at (276) 638-3987.
