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Jobs Coming at Lafayette Industries North Facility
Berkeley Expansion Brings 80 New North County Jobs
On Feb. 4, Lafayette Industries North, Inc. broke ground on an expansion to its facility in Berkeley that will add more than 80 new jobs to the area over the next 18 months. The $4.4 million project is being funded by a $2.3 million grant from the Productive Living Board and Lafayette’s “North County Strong” capital campaign to raise $2.1 million. Lafayette’s capital campaign was launched by a $100,000 donation from Emerson, which led to additional individual gifts, as well as a challenge grant by the Mabee Foundation. Combined, the gifts have put the organization halfway toward its overall capital campaign goal.
Lafayette Industries, a non-profit organization, is the largest full-time employer of adults with developmental disabilities in Missouri and has more than 165 people currently on its waiting list for jobs. This expansion will allow Lafayette to increase the number of people it employs at its two facilities from 373 to 500. An additional facility, Lafayette Work Center, Inc., is located in Manchester. Over the past 10 years, Lafayette has doubled its employment ranks.
“Emerson is proud to support Lafayette Industries and their commitment to job creation in the North County area,” Patrick J. Sly, executive vice president of Emerson said. “This expansion truly represents community-wide commitment to increased opportunities for those with developmental disabilities. We look forward to seeing the great success of this project.”
The 19,500-square-foot expansion at 4621 World Parkway Circle will bring the facility to more than 40,000 square feet. Among the additions are four packaging areas, a high-bay storage warehouse and four docks, as well as other renovations. Completion of the entire project will take approximately eight months.
“This expansion allows us to enhance our mission in the North County area and enables people with developmental disabilities to have choice for gainful employment and a feeling of purpose,” Kyler Humphrey, senior partner with Polsinelli and member of the board of directors of Lafayette Industries, said.
“Lafayette Industries offers its employees much more than just a job,” Rob Libera, chief executive officer and executive director of Lafayette Industries, said. “Our workers are excited each day to be among their peers, contributing and working together as a team, bringing them a sense of self-worth that many did not have prior to working at Lafayette. We have a long waiting list of people who want to work with us. This expansion will allow that to happen.”
Since 1976, Lafayette Industries has offered extensive training and support programs, allowing employees to use their abilities in a productive, professional work environment. The contract packager trains and supervises those with developmental disabilities to perform shrink wrap, blister pack, display assembly, and other packaging duties for its numerous corporate clients.
