News release: “State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith announced today that additional transportation assistance for unemployed workers will be made available in 20 non-rural counties in New York State. Each Workforce Investment Board in these counties will receive $6,250 that may be used to help pay transportation expenses for unemployed workers to access services at One-Stop Career Centers, apply for jobs, attend interviews and receive training. The money comes from federal funds allocated to New York State under the Workforce Investment Act, and may be used for the purchase of gas cards, swiper cards, or reimbursement of mileage or public transportation expenses. Each local Workforce Investment Board decides what transportation assistance is best for its area, and how the program will be administered. Assistance will be available within the next two weeks and will run until June 30, 2009, except in the five boroughs of New York City, where the program will begin around May 15th.”