Beaver Cab, Community Partners and PEP - The Beaver PEP Pass
I recently attended a chamber of commerce meeting where the two owners of Beaver Cab spoke and talked about their business. I was impressed by their professionalism and passion for safe and clean transportation in Corvallis. They are even in the process of purchasing a hybrid suv to add to their taxi fleet.
Here's the vision and then I'll elaborate.
The Beaver PEP Pass
A card that would be distributed through PEP to young mothers and families in the most need of a transportation resource.
The card would be limited in it's use and provide transportation to certain destination categories such as:
Schools
Hospitals/Doctor's Offices
Grocery Stores
PEP office
Church or Places of Worship
Place of employment
Other restrictions or caveats can be placed on the card, but you get the idea.
The card would provide for 50 one-way trips regardless of the number of passengers or destination and would be punched after each use . Per PEP's discretion, new cards could be handed out based on need.
The Leadership Corvallis Team and PEP would negotiate a fair per trip price with Beaver Cab that would be good for a period of 1 year and then renegotiated each year after. This promotion or fundraising initiative could be easily managed by PEP for future years or as the need arises.
Businesses could sponsor a certain number of cards and can be publicly acknowledged for providing 150(or 500, you fill in the blank) critical rides to young single mothers and low income families in Benton County. Whatever the number, it is a direct way for businesses to impact the community in a positive way.
I think it is a great "cause concept" that businesses might respond well to. It's also a more sustainable option, considering there would be no ongoing insurance, fuel and maintenance costs into perpetuity. It would also allow PEP to focus more on programs/services and less on transportation logistics.
Once this program is set up, it's also an easy fundraiser. As PEP runs out of cards, they simply go to local businesses, perhaps many of the same ones that originally sponsored and communicate the need for more.
No insurance, no gas, no maintenance - (Admittedly a big concern for Nancy)
I spoke to Nancy, the Exec. Director of PEP. She is supportive of it. What do all of you think?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
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5 comments:
What a great idea Chris, I like it. I was really worried about the future of the vehicle and what the costs could be. This makes so much sense.
I say we do it!
Susan
Chris I like the idea.
Jerri
Incredible. I really like the idea and am proud to know that Corvallis has business owners that are not only community minded, but are providing a sustainable, relevant service for moms and families. Fantastic!
Ben Potter
Are we going to try and meet before our next session or just discuss this further at that time?
Susan
I think we should discuss this, along with other options on the table, including our original direction. Another option we might research a bit is leveraging other existing programs to meet the same need. For example, Dial A Bus has a very similar service area and mission to that of the PEP. It might be worth a conversation with the City/County and/or Dial A Bus to see if service to PEP clients could be negotiated.
We can talk at next week's meeting and then calendar out some more strategy time then.
Cheers,
chris
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