GoKid is one of six startup companies that was selected as a recipient of the Michigan-based PlanetM Mobility Grant. This exciting grant allows us to bring GoKid Connect to selected pilot schools in Michigan. Since GoKid Connect is a school-based program that helps schools and families coordinate carpools, Michigan schools, and families are about to see why carpooling is better for families, schools, and the environment.
What is the Michigan-based PlanetM Mobility Grant?
PlanetM Mobility Grants are designed to help mobility companies, such as GoKid, test their technologies in Michigan. The mobility companies that received the grant all have aims of refining mobility, including reducing traffic congestion and improving safety. GoKid was awarded a $90,000 Planet M Mobility Grant to introduce GoKid Connect to select pilot schools in Michigan, including a discounted rate for all schools and districts in Michigan.
How GoKid is Helping Family Mobility in Michigan
Since its creation, GoKid has been saving families time and money. As of today, over 300,000 carpool rides have been scheduled using our app saving over 3 million miles of driving. GoKid Connect is an add-on to the app, which is designed to be used by schools. GoKid Connect allows schools to locate potential carpool partners safely. This grant will introduce GoKid Connect to pilot schools in Michigan.
By utilizing GoKid’s technology, families benefit from less traffic and congestion on their school routes and at school drop-offs and pick-ups. Additionally, GoKid aims to help schools improve school attendance and decrease tardiness. By helping parents get their children to and from school, GoKid’s carpool solution is beneficial to all.
As GoKid founder and CEO Stefanie Lemcke say, “We are honored to receive the PlanetM grant. Having participated in the Techstars Mobility program in Detroit, we are especially proud that Michigan will add another milestone to the GoKid success story. When Michigan’s schools and communities save time and money with GoKid, we all win, and the grant enables us to kick off a statewide implementation of our award-winning solution.”
Research That Matters
As part of the PlanetM Mobility Grant, GoKid will track and report key usage statistics at each pilot school. This information is critical for improving school and family mobility issues. As schools promote GoKid Connect, GoKid can track how the technology is used and how each school benefits. GoKid will then be able to use these statistics to show why carpooling makes a difference and should be implemented across Michigan (and the nation).
Why This Matters Even if You Don’t Call Michigan Home
While we are thrilled to be a recipient of the PlanetM Mobility Grant in Michigan, we are passionate about improving family mobility with carpooling across the US. GoKid has already found that carpooling helps families save time and money. As you partner with other families to get kids from Point A to Point B, you spend less money on gas and car repairs. Plus, GoKid families are doing something good for the environment – they’ve already reduced over 5 million pounds of CO2!
Even if you don’t live in Michigan or your school has not yet implemented the GoKid Connect platform, our GoKid mobile app is available to everyone. Our app is designed to make carpooling as easy and effective as possible. You choose who is in your carpool, and the app handles the rest (sending driving reminders and optimizing your route).
Want GoKid Connect at Your School?
Via the PlanetM grant, GoKid will offer our full carpool solution at a discounted rate to all schools in Michigan. While the initial pilot schools have already been selected, we are still accepting additional applications from interested schools and districts.
Get in touch at schools@gokid.com!
