There are three kinds of organizations eligible to apply for JARC and New Freedom funds:
Private, non-profit organizations
State or local governmental authorities
Operators of public transportation services, including private operators of public transportation services
Regional entities seeking JARC and New Freedom program grants begin the ATWIC application process in the first quarter of the calendar year and projects are selected for funding in May. ATWIC serves several important functions throughout the application process, including responding to eligibility questions, distribution of the final applications, ongoing technical assistance, and project monitoring. ATWIC has been recognized throughout the state for its support services throughout the application process and for its comprehensive approach to the project selection process.
Through the Federal Transit Administration’s JARC and New Freedom Initiatives grant programs matched by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and numerous local sources, twenty (20) projects in ten southwestern Pennsylvania counties have been implemented since 1998. Regional JARC and NFI programs brought more than $51 million in resources to the region for coordinated mobility-related transportation initiatives over the past 11 years. In FY 2009, Job Access/Reverse Commute projects, designed to provide employment access and related services, accounted for $6.1 million in total funding. New Freedom Initiatives projects, developed to improve the mobility of persons with disabilities, were funded with $1.6 million.
