The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.  Red Door Daviess County, a division of Four Rivers Resource Services, had just remodeled part of their industrial work area to include a room that was separated from all the other work areas.  NASCO had just had an increase in demand for rain suits assembled at their plant and needed to subcontract part of the operation to keep up with the demand. Elastic straps and clasps needed to be assembled as a part of the rain pants, but NASCO had to ensure that the area where the assembly was performed was clean and away from dust and harmful chemicals.

 

  Joe Atkinson, Operations Manager for Red Door, and FRRS Industrial Manager Dixie Dailey had been in contact with Brian Sherman of NASCO about Red Door’s potentials for subcontracting some work.  When Brian approached them with the assembly of the elastic straps in mind, Joe and Dixie said they had just the place where the assembly could take place. 

 

   Red Door began work on the contract in June 2004.  The work involves putting metal hook clasps on one end of white elastic straps and weaving them through another clasp in the middle to hold the straps together.

While there are cleanliness and quality standards to

meet, the assembly itself is fairly simple and has supplied work for seven different clients, some of whom had been unable to do some of the woodworking jobs performed by the shop.  “And, believe me, they want to do it,” said Atkinson of Red Door clients’ eagerness to work.  Theresa, a veteran of many Red Door contract jobs, says of the NASCO job, “I like it!  It’s nice to have a sit-down job.  You don’t have to be on your feet all day.  And the more you do, the more money you make!”

 

  NASCO officials are very pleased as well, according to satisfaction surveys completed after the contract

began.

 

  As called for in the contract, Red Door delivers 500

completed strap units to NASCO each week…  right  on time.

Perfect Timing

   Ride Solution has completed their first Compliance Review through the Indiana Department of Transportation.  The review team interviewed staff, examined policies, records  and other materials and commended division staff on the development and operation of the system.  Compliance

Reviews are conducted on all established public transportation systems affiliated with the Department of  Transportation.

 

   Ride Solution was created as a

coordinated public transportation

service to provide safe, dependable and affordable transportation to anyone living in the service area.  Ride Solution is a collaborative effort, a partnership of existing area transportation providers including Four Rivers Resource Services, the Area Agency on Aging, Generations, and Senior and Family Services.  Four Rivers serves as the lead agency for the system.

 

    Ride Solution began providing public transportation in Daviess, Martin, Greene, and Sullivan counties in January 2001.  The service expanded in January 2002 to include Pike County.

 

   People call on Ride Solution for a variety of reasons.  Some turn to Ride Solution for a one-time situation, such as having a car in the shop, conflicting family schedules, etc.  Others rely on Ride Solution frequently, as an  answer to other temporary or long-term transportation

needs.  Ride Solution customers are a diverse group, including families, children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and others without personal means of transportation.

 

   Last year, Ride Solution provided 79,169 trips system-wide.  Of the total trips provided, 49% were for work purposes, 29% were for medical reasons, 12% were to schools and daycare, and 10% were for errands.  Of the total passengers, 43% were persons with disabilities, 34% were    elderly, and 23% were persons without disabilities under the age of 60.

 

     Ride Solution was developed in response to state initiated needs assessments in our counties which identified the need for more adequate public trans- portation as a priority within our communities.  Ride Solution’s goal is to continue to grow in capacity and in its ability to respond to consumer demand as efficiently as possible.

Ride Solution System In Review