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Community-Based Organization Development

We help CBOs turn local transportation needs into practical mobility programs, from planning through implementation.

Two riders in high-visibility Shared Mobility shirts standing with a red E-Bike Pilot bike on a park path, with more riders and bicycles on the lawn behind them

Building Local Capacity. Advancing Community-Driven Mobility.

Community-based organizations understand the transportation challenges facing the people they serve. They have trusted relationships, deep local knowledge, and a direct understanding of where gaps in mobility create barriers to jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential destinations.

We partner with community-based organizations to pair that local expertise with the technical knowledge, resources, and project support needed to develop and deliver mobility programs. Together, we help turn community priorities into actionable projects while building the capacity needed to sustain and grow those efforts over time.

Starting With Community Needs

The most effective mobility programs begin with the people they are designed to serve.

Community-based organizations are often uniquely positioned to understand how transportation challenges affect residents, particularly in communities where traditional transportation options may not fully meet local needs. They can identify barriers that may not be visible through transportation data alone and bring the voices of community members directly into the development of solutions.

We work alongside these organizations to understand the challenges they have identified, explore potential solutions, and develop programs that reflect the priorities and experiences of the communities they serve.

Common Transportation Challenges Affecting Residents

A working session around a long table under a vaulted timber ceiling, participants with laptops, printed agendas and notes in front of them

From Community Need to Sustainable Program

1

Identify the Need

Begin with the transportation barriers and priorities identified by the community.

2

Explore Solutions

Evaluate mobility options based on local needs, available resources, and organizational capacity.

3

Develop the Program

Define the service model, target population, partnerships, budget, and implementation strategy.

4

Secure Resources

Pursue funding, connect with vendors and public agencies, and build the partnerships needed to move forward.

5

Launch and Learn

Coordinate implementation, introduce the program to the community, and collect feedback.

6

Build for the Future

Develop the knowledge, relationships, and operational capacity needed to sustain and expand the program.

How We Support Community-Based Organizations

$40 M+

million dollars raised

We have raised over 40 million dollars for transportation programs in 4 different states. 

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Program Development

We help organizations turn mobility ideas into structured, actionable programs. Together, we define program goals, identify target populations, evaluate potential service models, and develop strategies for implementation and long-term growth.

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Technical Assistance

Organizations shouldn’t need to be transportation experts to address transportation challenges in their communities. We provide technical guidance on shared mobility, electric mobility, program design, technology, operations, and other considerations that can help organizations make informed decisions.

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Funding & Grant Support

Funding is often one of the biggest barriers between a good idea and a successful program. We help organizations identify funding opportunities, develop competitive grant applications, build project budgets, and establish partnerships that can strengthen proposals and bring additional resources to the table.

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Partnership Development

Community-driven mobility programs often require collaboration across multiple sectors. We help connect community-based organizations with government agencies, mobility providers, funders, institutions, and other partners that can provide the resources and expertise needed to move projects forward.

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Project Implementation

Securing funding is only the beginning. We provide hands-on support as programs move from concept to implementation, helping coordinate partners, manage vendors, track deliverables, navigate project requirements, and address challenges as they arise.

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Operations & Long-Term Sustainability

We help organizations think beyond the initial launch of a program. By considering staffing, operations, funding, partnerships, and program evaluation from the beginning, we work with organizations to develop strategies that strengthen programs and support their long-term sustainability.

Local Knowledge Meets Mobility Expertise

Communities Know What They Need. We Help Build the Path to Get There.

Our role is not to enter a community with a predetermined solution. We believe the strongest mobility programs combine the knowledge and relationships of local organizations with the technical expertise and resources needed to turn ideas into action.

Community-based organizations bring an understanding of local needs and trusted relationships with the people they serve. We bring experience in mobility planning, funding, program design, implementation, and operations.

By bringing those strengths together, we can develop mobility programs that are both technically sound and grounded in the communities they are intended to serve.

A technician adjusting a red E-Bike Pilot bike in a warehouse, with a row of the same bikes lined up behind him

Building Capacity That Lasts

A successful partnership should leave an organization stronger than when the project began.

Throughout our work, we look for opportunities to build knowledge and capacity within our partner organizations. This may include developing internal processes, providing training and technical resources, strengthening relationships with government agencies and funders, or helping staff gain the knowledge needed to manage mobility programs.

Our goal is to help organizations build the tools, relationships, and experience they need to take a more active role in shaping transportation solutions within their communities.

Connecting Communities to Resources

Community-based organizations often have strong ideas but may lack access to the funding, technology, vendors, or government relationships needed to bring them to life.

We help bridge those gaps.

By connecting organizations with public agencies, private-sector mobility providers, funding opportunities, and other community partners, we help build the network of support needed to move mobility projects forward.

Our role can vary depending on the needs of each organization—from providing targeted technical assistance to serving as a long-term project partner through planning, funding, implementation, and operations.

Programs We Can Help Develop

We support community-based organizations exploring a range of mobility initiatives, including:

Every community is different. We work with our partners to identify solutions that respond to local needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

Who We Work With

We partner with organizations that have deep connections to the communities they serve, including:

We can also help organizations build partnerships with government agencies, transportation providers, and other institutions when broader collaboration is needed to achieve their goals.

A Partner From Idea to Implementation

Community-based organizations can engage us at any stage of a project.

An organization may come to us with a clearly defined mobility program that needs funding or implementation support. Others may have identified a transportation challenge but aren’t yet sure what the right solution looks like.

We meet organizations where they are and help identify the next step—whether that’s exploring potential solutions, developing a program, finding funding, building a partnership, or managing implementation.

By providing support throughout the process, we help organizations maintain ownership of their vision while gaining access to the expertise and resources needed to make it a reality.

FAQs

Does my organization need transportation expertise to work with SMI?

No. We provide the technical guidance needed to help organizations evaluate mobility options and make informed decisions. Your organization brings its knowledge of the community, and we contribute expertise in planning, funding, program design, implementation, and operations.

We support a wide range of initiatives, including bikeshare and e-bikeshare, community e-bike programs, mobility hubs, adaptive mobility, first- and last-mile transportation, carshare, transportation access programs, and mobility education and outreach.

Organizations can work with us at any stage,from identifying potential solutions to an existing transportation challenge to securing funding, implementing a defined program, or improving ongoing operations. You do not need to have a program fully developed before reaching out.

We consider long-term staffing, funding, operations, partnerships, and evaluation from the beginning. We also help build internal knowledge, processes, relationships, and skills so organizations can take an active role in sustaining and expanding their programs.

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Let’s Build Something That Works for Your Community

If your organization has identified a transportation challenge, you don’t need to have the solution figured out before starting the conversation.

We can help you explore what’s possible, connect with the right partners and resources, and develop a path from community need to real-world mobility solution.

Together, we can build mobility programs that are shaped by communities, supported by strong partnerships, and designed to create lasting impact.