AUGUSTA — The Central Western Maine Workforce Development Board invites local businesses and employer partners within Kennebec, Somerset, Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties to apply for transportation pilot program funding.

The pilots will be created to help mitigate transportation as a barrier to the recruitment and retention of qualified employees. These pilots may include van pools, shuttles, e-bikes or other viable solutions. The board will select up to nine projects with an allocation not to exceed $25,000 each, according to a news release from the board.

“Any conversation about barriers to employment often brings up transportation,” explained Erin Benson, the board’s executive director. “Most areas of the central western Maine region are rural in nature with little access to public transportation. Recruiting and retaining employees who don’t have access to a vehicle or public transportation is a difficult task.”

The board will partner with GoMaine, an organization that assists employers and employees with commute options, and works with planning agencies, businesses, advocacy groups, and other partners to reduce barriers to transportation.

The pilot will help employers, groups of employers, or employer partners gauge the success of a program and find ways to keep it going beyond the life of the grant.

Applicants must submit a fillable application along with an excel file that lists the individual zip codes of all employees. GoMaine will use this information to create a map that identifies the scope of transportation needs.

All materials must be submitted to workforce@cwmwdb.org by Tuesday, April 15.

Information about the grant and an application can be found at cwmwdb.org.

Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.