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In a huge win for the Massachusetts taxi and livery industry, MassDevelopment, a state economic development and finance authority, awarded The Transportation Alliance (TTA) a $1 million grant to implement professional programs that will benefit taxi and livery service providers across the Commonwealth. This grant comes at an economically fraught time in the industry, which has been hit especially hard by the pandemic.
"This is a chance for Massachusetts operators to see how professional skills-building in terms of safety, business diversification, and efficiency can drive companies forward, and keeps them competitive,” said TTA President Nick Cambas of United Taxi & Yellow Cab of Clearwater (Florida).
Former TTA President Tom Arrighi, head of A&A Transportation and Bill’s Taxi Service in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, who helped spearhead the grant application, expressed his enthusiasm not only for what this grant will do for TTA but what it can provide for fellow Bay State transportation operators.
Former TTA President Tom Arrighi
"I'm really excited about the opportunities we're going to have with the grant. It's such a win for Massachusetts operators, and I'm hoping we can show other companies what TTA members have known for more than a century: That the best resources are found within professional trade groups and by sharing information and best practices with your peers in the industry,” Arrighi said.
The grant, paid for by the state’s Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Trust Fund created in 2016, is funded in part by a 20-cent surcharge imposed on TNCs, with 5 cents of each surcharge helping to fund MassDevelopment’s support of the for-hire transportation industry.
TTA plans to use the funds to enact programs assisting Massachusetts operators in discovering, creating, and developing innovations, technology, and solutions that enhance mobility, improve service delivery, create competitive advantage, and are financially viable and sustainable.
Some of the specific plans include: monthly conference calls and follow-up calls with taxi and livery operator grant recipients; webinars on topics like service diversification for enhanced public service and engaging the public through social media; professional tips and handbooks on passenger and driver safety, driver recruitment and retention as well as public relations, crisis management and social media.
Massachusetts operators can also subscribe to two newsletters that will deliver the latest transportation news to inboxes throughout the week. Additionally, TTA will produce a newsletter for Massachusetts drivers, with an aim toward imparting information that drivers can put immediately into play. Massachusetts drivers and operators interested in signing up for these newsletters should email their complete contact information (name, company name, mailing address, phone number, and email) to info@thetransportationalliance.org.
The project will also fund business-related education for drivers, such as certification courses in non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and will include educational scholarships for fleet management enhancement.
"I'm pleased we can target this necessary support for the taxi and livery industries, which make up an important component of the Commonwealth’s comprehensive transportation network," Massachusetts' Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy said in a press release announcing the grant awards. "These grants will support the competitiveness of the taxi and livery industries by helping them make critical adjustments to operate with the health and safety of both their workers and customers in mind."
Visit thetransportationalliance.org for more information.
[02.10.21]
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- Category: Industry News
Keep yourself informed and connected to other members of the industry by attending these important virtual meetings.
National Limousine Association
Exclusive webinar with Chosen Payments President & CEO Jeff Brodsly, hosted by Bill Faeth of Limo University
2/10 at 12:00 p.m. ET on the NLA’s Facebook page
Wisconsin Limousine Association
Conference call 605.313.4821 (access code: 525415#)
2/10 at 1:00 p.m. CT
United Motorcoach Association
2/11 at 2:00 p.m. ET online (registration required)
Did we miss your association meeting? Let us know! Email susan@chauffeurdriven.com or rob@chauffeurdriven.com to be included in our calendar.
[02.09.21]
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- Category: Industry News
The National Limousine Association (NLA) is hosting an exclusive webinar with Chosen Payments President & CEO Jeff Brodsly on Wednesday, February 10 at noon ET.
Moderated by Bill Faeth of Limo University and streamed live on the NLA’s Facebook page, the session will tackle industry trends in the pre- and post-pandemic world along with a frank discussion about what is working (and not) for operators in 2021. As a leading financial partner for the luxury ground transportation industry, Brodsly is able to offer a unique perspective on the current the current state of the industry as well as where things are heading. Click here for direct access to the NLA Facebook page.
Meanwhile, the NLA is still in the process of building a health insurance program for its members that has the potential to save the average operator substantially on their monthly premiums. In order to get the best rates locked in, the NLA Board of Directors is requesting that all interested operators AND any benefit-eligible employees complete a personal healthcare questionnaire. Click here to access the survey.
The site is secure/HIPAA compliant and the information submitted will only be used only by the insurance underwriters to set the NLA rates for the health insurance program. It is vital that the information that is submitted is as accurate as possible so that operators receive the best and most accurate rates.
Please note:
- Completing the Personal Health Information does not obligate you to participate in the plan, it just allows the underwriters to set the rates.
- The more companies and individuals that complete the form, the more likelihood of lower rates since the risk is spread across more individuals.
- This health insurance plan will only be available to NLA members.
Deadline to complete the form for operators and their employees is February 15 for coverage to begin April 1, 2021.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[02.09.21]