At the Nashville Drive to Work Symposium, panelist Michael Skipper, Executive Director of the Greater Nashville Regional Council, laid out the specifics of a new incentive program that any business in Middle Tennessee can use to get more people to work and reduce traffic, using cash rewards. He was describing the Technology In Transit program, and how any employer can participate in a Public Private Partnership (P3) which is unique in the nation, designed to relieve congestion on our freeway systems.

Employers can tap advertising and recruiting budgets to sponsor the public rewards program that is aimed at every commuter in the region. At the same time, companies of any size are now eligible to receive matching grants for employee mobility incentives.

Using a 501c3 structure operated by the Greater Nashville Regional Council, corporations make contributions that are deductible. These funds unlock public grant funding, and together, directly benefit the employees and the employer as they cooperate to achieve commute trip reduction goals and reduce environmental impacts (also known as Scope 3 emissions). These programs highlight the brands making a difference in reducing congestion and help companies fund incentives and rewards for any employee sharing a ride or taking public transit in the seven county area of Middle Tennessee.

With over $1M budgeted for cash rewards and matching grants available today, Michael Skipper was describing what the region can do today to reduce congestion. “It’s about how we manage demand on our roadways,” and he continued to focus on the use of cash incentives as “the carrots” that change behavior.

More than four years in the development and planning effort, Nashville employers can take immediate steps with existing technology. Every citizen in the seven county area benefits from reducing gridlock and related emissions.