New companies get pitch on bus subsidies

Companies drawn to Washoe County by the area's quality of life get a pitch these days about a way they can protect it.

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and the Regional Transportation Commission make sure that new companies know about a program that provides subsidized bus fares to workers.

So far, none of the new companies moving to the area have undertaken the program but RTC officials say they're not worried.

"It's really a perfect relationship.

It shows the support of the business community," said Nancy Pearl, director of marketing and communications for the transit agency.

Through the subsidy program, RTC matches employers' contribution for purchase of monthly bus passes.

The maximum RTC match is 20 percent.

The employer, meanwhile, receives a tax deduction for its contribution.

And employees receive a tax-free benefit.

Big employers ranging from Reno casinos to Washoe Health System to Manpower have signed on.

Laura Donnell, who coordinates the bus-subsidy program for RTC, believes companies moving to Washoe County from larger metropolitan areas are likely to further boost the program.

They often have greater experience with the need for transit systems to get workers to the job, and they sometimes have subsidy programs in place at other locations.

And, Pearl added, newcomers to the community usually have a high desire to protect the region's air quality, Lisa Plummer, EDAWN's director of business development, said the ability of employees to get to work is a key point with nearly every company that scouts locations in northern Nevada.

"People always are interested in hearing about it," she said of the bus-pass subsidy program.

EDAWN has routinely provided information about the subsidy since last autumn.