NEW YORK, NY — July 10, 2026 — Lyft, Inc. (Nasdaq: LYFT) and the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC), the largest city-based workforce development association in the country, today announced a new pilot program designed to help New Yorkers overcome transportation barriers to employment.
Through the Job Access Ride Code Pilot Program, Lyft will provide $50,000 in ride credits to support job seekers connected to NYCETC’s network of more than 220 workforce development organizations, which collectively serve over 200,000 New Yorkers across the five boroughs. The program will enable participating organizations to distribute ride credits to individuals traveling to job interviews, training programs, and early employment opportunities.
The announcement comes at a critical moment for New York City’s workforce. As of March 1, 2026, new federal work requirements under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” require able-bodied adults without dependents (ages 18–64) to complete at least 80 hours per month of work, training, or volunteer activity in order to maintain SNAP food assistance benefits. An estimated 123,000 New Yorkers fall into this category, making reliable access to transportation an increasingly important factor in maintaining eligibility and accessing employment opportunities.
Through the pilot, NYCETC member organizations — which serve New Yorkers of color, low- and moderate-income residents, individuals with barriers to employment, and those historically left out of the growing economy — will distribute ride codes to job seekers to support transportation to job interviews, training programs, workforce development appointments, and early employment. Each job seeker is eligible for ride credits that will cover the cost of their transportation to workforce training programs, interviews and jobs. If the pilot is successful, Lyft and NYCETC intend to extend the partnership to continue to meet the needs of New Yorkers and continue addressing transportation barriers to employment.
“Transportation is one of the most persistent and invisible barriers between a New Yorker and their next opportunity,” said Gregory J. Morris, CEO of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition. “Our member organizations work every day to connect underserved New Yorkers to jobs, training, and pathways to economic mobility — and too often, the ride to the interview is the obstacle standing in the way. At a moment when federal policy changes are placing new demands on workers while cutting the safety net out from under them, this partnership with Lyft is exactly the kind of private-sector commitment our city needs. Reliable transportation to a job interview or a workforce training program can change the trajectory of someone’s life. We are proud to welcome Lyft as a partner in this work.”
“Lyft knows that access to reliable, affordable transportation is foundational to economic opportunity,” said Tavonia Davis, Senior Public Policy Manager at Lyft. “For New Yorkers trying to land a job, get to a training program, or meet the new federal work requirements to keep their food benefits, a ride can make the difference between success and a missed chance. Our Job Access programs across the country show that removing transportation barriers unlocks opportunities. We are proud to partner with NYCETC to deliver that impact where it matters most.”
“Getting to a job interview, a training program, or the first day of work should never be the reason someone misses out on an opportunity. Transportation is one of the most overlooked barriers to employment, particularly for New Yorkers already facing financial challenges, said Councilmember Virginia Maloney, Chair, NYC Council Committee on Economic Development. “This partnership between Lyft and NYCETC is an innovative example of how the private sector can partner with workforce organizations to expand access to jobs, training, and economic mobility for New Yorkers across all five boroughs.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to addressing systemic barriers that have historically made economic mobility difficult for New Yorkers who have been left behind by the growing economy. NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris, who served on Mayor Mamdani’s Transition Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Development, has been one of New York City’s leading voices calling for public and private sector actors to modernize workforce support systems and embrace new tools and technologies to help all New Yorkers compete for good jobs.
About the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Founded in 1997, NYCETC is the largest city-based workforce development association in the country, representing more than 220 member organizations that connect over 200,000 New Yorkers to jobs and economic opportunity each year. NYCETC members create jobs and connect underserved New Yorkers — primarily New Yorkers of color, those with low or moderate incomes, and those facing multiple barriers to employment — to training, career pathways, and family-sustaining opportunities. Learn more at nycetc.org.
About Lyft
Whether it’s an everyday commute or a journey that changes everything, Lyft is driven by our purpose: to serve and connect. Founded in 2012, Lyft has grown into a global mobility platform offering a mix of rideshare, taxis, private hire vehicles, executive chauffeur services, car sharing, bikes, and scooters across six continents and thousands of cities. Millions of drivers have chosen to earn on billions of rides – helping to create a more connected world, with transportation options for everyone.
Media Contact: Patrick McCabe, Patrick@hayesinitiative.com, (631) 747-7906