Airport Jobs e-UDPATE: Feature story

AIRPORT JOBS e-UPDATE:
News for employers

Affordable cars help low-wage employees in King County get to work

Working Wheels helps employers by steering workers toward success

Airport Jobs e-UPDATE, October 23, 2003



	Working Wheels helped Sunni Easton get a reliable car - and keep her job.

Sunni Easton had a good job and a bad car. When the car finally died, she took the bus to work each day, extending a 20-minute commute to more than an hour. Missing a bus or taking her son to a mid-day doctor’s appointment presented a major obstacle to being at work. Despite a flexible schedule and a patient boss, it wouldn’t be much longer before her job would be in jeopardy.

Fortunately for Sunni, she applied for a car from Working Wheels, a non-profit program that sells good quality used cars to low-wage workers who need a car to get to work. “I was one of the first people to sign up,” says Sunni, who worked at SeaTac Airport at the time. “I’ve had my car for a year now… and it’s so reliable!”

Reliable transportation = on-time workers, happy employers
Many workers in and around Sea-Tac Airport face challenges like Sunni in just getting to and from work. Those working shifts outside of regular business hours may find most car- and vanpool schedules don’t really align with their working hours. Others live beyond the reach of the transit system, and must drive unsafe or unreliable cars to get to work.

Working Wheels is ready to help such workers, and is now seeking applicants who live in King County. “We want to spread the word about Working Wheels,” says Fritz Cutchlow, Working Wheels’ Program Manager. “We know that there are a lot of low-wage workers out there who need a reliable way to get to their job. Working Wheels can make getting to work a little easier on them – and their boss!”

How Working Wheels works
“We sell cars that are in great shape,” says Cutchlow. All vehicles are inspected and reconditioned by a certified mechanic before sale. Cars sell for about $1,500 through a three-year auto loan from Sound Community Bank, which comes out to an affordable $55 per month.

“Working Wheels does more than sell used cars,” says Cutchlow. “We also offer other support services to help our clients be successful car owners.” Applicants learn how to develop a budget to see if they can afford a car. All car owners attend a basic auto maintenance workshop and sign up for banking services, such as savings accounts, once they get their loan at Sound Community Bank.

Working Wheels also connects applicants who need credit repair to a financial counselor. “Showing applicants what is on their credit report and putting them in charge of their credit and personal finances is one of the most empowering parts of the program,” said Mecca Stevenson, Working Wheels Program Assistant.

Connecting your employees to Working Wheels
If you think your employees might benefit from Working Wheels, you can:

Distribute a Working Wheels flyer to your staff
Tell employees about the Working Wheels website (www.working-wheels.org), where they can get more information, determine whether they are eligible, and download an application. (Employees without internet access can call the Working Wheels hotline (206-694-6833) to request an application by mail.)
Schedule a Working Wheels orientation/application workshop for your employees - just call Working Wheels at 206-694-6833 and a Working Wheels staff will visit your business to talk with your staff.

To learn more about Working Wheels, email Stephanie Kellner at kellner.s@portseattle.org

Working Wheels was created by Port Jobs, and is operated by the Fremont Public Association. Program partners include: City of Seattle, Washington State Employment Security Department, Sound Community Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, Port of Seattle, King County, Pacific Northwest Bank, Nowogroski Rupp Insurance Group, and Pacific Associates.

Employer partners:
Peruse the list of airport employers listing their employment opportunities with Airport Jobs.

Trends in traffic:
Take a look at the weekly number of job seekers seeing your employment listings last month within a little historical context.

Port JOBS:
Learn more about Port Jobs, the non-profit that developed and operates Airport Jobs.