Economic Development
Project TRANSIT (Transportation Related Awareness, Networking, Skills, Information and Training) is a program that encourages disadvantaged urban populations to pursue career opportunities available in the transportation industry. At the same time, the program aims to educate and help African American firms to bid on contracting opportunities in the transportation industry.
The community component of the program targets transportation-related job opportunities to share with residents who are seeking employment. The high school component of the program provides students with 1) work assignments in a professional setting with mentors whose work relates to the transportation industry; 2) job-readiness, leadership training and conflict resolution skills; and, 3) transportation-related summer internships.
To date, Project TRANSIT has achieved the following:
- Working with major partners, The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) and the Philadelphia Streets Department, Project TRANSIT was able to reach over four hundred fifty (450) 11th and 12th grade students with information about careers in public transportation.
- Community outreach activities creating awareness of jobs in transportation industry reached the key representatives of over 120 community organizations;
- Partnered with the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Streets Department to provide transportation-related summer internships for 140 students in 2007-2009;
- Produced a Transportation Career Fair in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia which was held in the fall of 2007;
- Conducted extensive and sustained outreach to over thirty-five (35) existing disadvantaged businesses, offering information, business seminars, technical assistance,
- Created an on-line job posting and application system for use by community residents.
In addition to Project TRANSIT, the American Cities Foundation (ACF) also implements Project RISE (Reaching and Impacting Small Entrepreneurs). This program provides prospective business owners and existing small businesses with technical and financial assistance to facilitate business creation and growth. Project RISE targets nontraditional, underrepresented groups for business ownership to improve their chances of successfully launching and maintaining a business.
Entrepreneurs and small businesses that enroll in Project RISE receive customized business development assistance. Our emerging entrepreneurs have received business assessment, support for business licensures, creation or updates to their business plans, and have received technical training based on their specific business needs.
In May 2009, ACF celebrated the accomplishments of twenty-one business owners who participated in Project RISE. MBA candidates at St. Joseph’s University assisted the participants in the design of their business plans. Wireless Philadelphia, VKG Information Technology, the Enterprise Center, the Cureton Group, and Ikodum provided information technology support and training.