New York offering gas cards to rural job seekers

To help rural job seekers in their search for employment, the State of New York is offering gas cards worth $25 to $50 to offset transportation costs. Residents in 34 counties will be eligible for a total of $250,000, which will be allocated to individual counties for distribution.

The program hopes to counter difficulties created by distance and lack of public transportation. "Unemployed workers in our rural counties face unique difficulties in their job hunt," said M. Patricia Smith, New York's labor commissioner. "Often they must drive long distances simply to apply for a job, attend an interview, or work on their resume at our One-Stop Career Center. All that driving costs money."

Jim Stinson of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle notes that the general requirements are that "a recipient must be unemployed, actively looking for work, and be registered at and working with the One-Stop Career Center." The One-Stop Centers are public programs offering free job search support and training. The cards will be offered until the end of June, or until the program's money runs out. (Read more)