Media Contact: Neville Waters (202) 645-6020; [email protected]
The DC Taxicab Commission (DCTC) awarded $572,495 in grants to District taxicab operators. Applications are still being accepted for the Transport DC Expansion Grants Program as a balance of $177,505 remains to be awarded.
The twenty grants of $7,500 with a matching $5,000 grant from Mobility Ventures towards the purchase of a discounted priced $25,000 MV-1 wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) means the MV-1 can be acquired for $12,500. The success of this grants program has convinced Mobility Ventures to make additional specially priced MV-1 vehicles available.
Of the seven additional grants for $7,500, two were assigned to individual drivers and five went to a company. Seventy-six grants of $2,500 to offset the cost to rent a WAV were awarded to twelve individual drivers and six companies. There were two training grants given which will provide free disability sensitivity and vehicle operation training to any District taxi driver. The complete list of grant recipients can be found below.
“The Commission is pleased with the initial response to this grants program as it demonstrates the industry understands a good business opportunity,” Acting DCTC Chairman Ernest Chrappah said. “However, we are most excited that drivers will receive free training which will incentivize them to operate wheelchair vehicles to increase access to this transportation option.”
Applications remain available until September 30, 2015 to any driver with a valid H-tag and taxicab companies that have met the 6% WAVs requirement.
$7,500 Grant + $5,000 Grant/MV-1
GRAND CAB
YIFRED FOLIE
TRANSCO, INC.
PAK AMERICAN COMPANY
MELAKU KASSA
YEWONDWOSSEN TASSIE
$7,500 Grant
UVC
DOROTHY OSEI-KUFFUOR
KOLAWOLA AKINADEWO
$2,500 Rental Offset Grant
PAK AMERICAN COMPANY
GRAND CAB
TRAVELERS CAB CO.
TRANSCO, INC.
YELLOW CAB OF DC
ABDEWALE ABUDERIN
HAILEAB LISSANU
ALEX GEBRU
PAN-AM, INC.
DAMTEW A TEJENE
YIMAM HABTUMU
MESERET MEKONNEN
HAGOS A. MOKONNEN
SOLOMON G MULAT
MAHMOUD ABDELGAWWAD
ADISU DIRIBSA
MOVEZ IDRIS
LEONIDAS RAMEREZ-CUELO
Training Grant
TRANSCO, INC.
YELLOW CAB OF DC