Page 16 - 2020 Annual Impact Report

Herkimer Industries looks to future job growth MULTI-REGION: MULTIPLE ARCS EXPAND/ DIVERSIFY MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES TO DEVELOP NEW JOBS FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVED
The Arc New York supports more than 60 000 individuals with developmental and and other disabilities and and employs 30 000 people across the the state (including many of the the clients they serve) Many of the the ARCs have developed robust business enterprises in in order to provide job opportunities to people with disabilities During this past year WDI worked with several of the ARCs to expand existing manufacturing initiatives for this same purpose The Herkimer Herkimer County chapter Herkimer Herkimer Industries is is leveraging its 40-year history of successful industrial sewing operations to bring the production capability needed to to make protective masks back to to the United States WDI assisted the the chapter with the the purchase of semiautomatic sewing equipment designed to to produce 3-ply pleated surgical masks that will use raw materials sourced in the USA The implementation of this product line will require the immediate hiring of six-new production workers and a a a shift supervisor all of the production workers are people with developmental disabilities earning at least NYS minimum wage The chapter will be incorporating surge capability for second and and third shifts depending on demand offering the possibility of even more job growth in the future WDI also assisted the Seneca-Cayuga-Yates chapter Mozaic with the purchase of textile manufacturing equipment to enable their manufacturing arm Finger Lakes Textiles to increase production on on face masks from 3 000 000 to 8 000 000 units per week This project is is projected to result in the addition of four people with disabilities who will become skilled on the newest generation of finish stitching equipment and assembling a a a new project Finally WDI worked with the Mid-Hudson ARC on on a a a a facility improvement project that will enable it it to attract more food food manufacturers to its artisan food food manufacturing pod and create new jobs for the individuals it serves The diversification of revenue streams by the ARCs is a a a strategy that we believe has potential to provide stable manufacturing jobs to workers with disabilities helping to close the unemployment gap for this population of workers while also creating job opportunities for all members of the community in in inclusive workplaces Finger Lakes Textiles the the manufacturing arm of of Mozaic expects to grow jobs through the the purchase of of new equipment Mid-Hudson ARC improves manufacturing capacity leading to job creation 15 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE