Small businesses in Snohomish County now have a way to offer employees a valuable benefit—free transit passes—without adding cost to their budget.

Community Transit’s Small Business Partnerships Program helps eligible businesses provide employees with ORCA cards that offer unlimited access to transit services across the Puget Sound region.

What is the Small Business Partnerships Program?

The Small Business Partnerships Program is designed to make transit benefits accessible to smaller employers.

Through the program, participating businesses can offer employees:

• ORCA cards with unlimited rides
• Access to multiple transit agencies across the region
• A reliable, low-cost commuting option

The goal is simple: reduce transportation barriers for employees while supporting local businesses.

How the program works

Getting started is straightforward:

1. Connect with Community Transit. Businesses work directly with program staff to determine eligibility.
2. Enroll employees. Eligible employees receive ORCA cards with transit access.
3. Start riding. Employees can use transit for commuting and daily trips across participating systems.

There’s no need for complex reimbursement systems or ongoing administration.

Who qualifies?

The program is designed specifically for small businesses in Snohomish County. Eligibility may vary based on factors like:

• Business size
• Location
• Employee participation

Community Transit works directly with each business to guide them through the process.

Benefits for employers and employees

For employers:

• Helps attract and retain employees
• Reduces demand for parking
• Supports sustainability goals

For employees:

• Lowers commuting costs
• Expands access to reliable transportation
• Provides flexibility for work and personal trips

Real example: Mill Creek Town Center

Businesses in Mill Creek Town Center are already participating in the program. This local example shows how transit benefits can work in practice—helping employees get to work more easily while supporting business operations.

Learn more about the program

To see if your business qualifies or to get started, visit: communitytransit.org/smallbiz.

Watch: How the program works

For a full walkthrough, including how businesses enroll and what employees experience, watch this episode of That Transit Show.

Listen to the episode

Prefer audio? You can also listen to this episode on your favorite podcast platform.