CARF International Commends Foothills Industries
January 31, 2012
From the CARF International Survey Report, December, 2011
Foothills demonstrates exemplary conformance to the standards in the following area:
“Foothill Industries, through its partnership with MARC, has expanded its medical drape business tremendously, resulting in a 40 percent increase in manufacturing revenue for the organization in just three years. The equipment used is state of the art, and the increase in demand for product has had many positive benefits for the organization. This includes greater revenue, increased wages, and a 66 percent increase in average productivity for the persons served. In addition, it offers an opportunity for the persons served to work as traditional production workers for the organization-work that includes benefits and wages. In addition to meeting the stringent requirements for ISO 13485 certification, the organization performs supplemental in-process checks, both to ensure accurate product and to give meaningful feedback to the persons served that results in better work performance.”
Michael Maybee-2011 Champions of Equality & Justice Award Winner
November 01, 2011
2011 Champions of Equality & Justice Award Winner-Michael Maybee
Disability Rights North Carolina has awarded Michael Maybee, of MARC member Watauga Opportunities, the Champions of Equality & Justice Award in a ceremony held in Raleigh on October 27, 2011.
Disability Rights North Carolina is a private non-profit organization designated by the Governor in 2007 to ensure the rights of all state citizens with disabilities through individual advocacy and system change.
For more than two decades Michael Maybee has advocated for full community inclusion of people with disabilities in North Carolina. A colleague of Michael's described his advocacy as more of a religion than a professional duty.
Michael's leadership is recognized by advocates across the state due to his service on many state and regional councils and boards. Michael is Past Chair of the NC State Rehabilitation Council which provides oversight, guidance and advice to the State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. He is a founding member of the NC Chapter of the Association for Persons in Supported Employment and Past President of the North Carolina Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. He is the Past President of MARC and he serves on the NC Vocational Rehabilitation/Community Rehabilitation Program Task Force, is an organizing member of the recent North Carolina Institute of Medicines (IOM) Developmental Disabilities Task Force.
IOI Adds 25 New Jobs!
October 26, 2011
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New Jobs!
IOI adds 25 jobs
By: Lizz Harold lharold@myandrewsjournal.com | Wednesday, September 7, 2011 9:06 PM CDT
Industrial Opportunities Inc. in Andrews will be adding 25 full-time employees to its payroll. The plant was awarded a two-year contract to manufacture A-22 cargo bags for the U.S. military.
The cargo bags will be used to airdrop supplies and equipment to ground troops in Afghanistan. There also is the possibility of the contract being extended for a third year.
Josh Carpenter, economic development director for Cherokee County, announced the expansion during Tuesday’s county commission meeting.
"Everyday for the next two years, people can get up and know they have jobs," Carpenter said.
The plant’s workforce is nearly 400 strong, including 100 adults with disabilities who are in vocational training. Since the manufacturer came to Andrews in 2003, the total wages and benefits added to the local economy total more than $43 million. The plant manufactures more than 100 different products, many of which service military or law enforcement sectors, according to IOI.
"Tom [O’Brien] has really saved our community for jobs," District I Commissioner Steve Jordan said.
Seven of the 25 new employees are expected to be hired by the end of the week. The increase in workers will bring the annual payroll and benefits to more than $9 million, said Tom O’Brien, chief executive officer of IOI.
"I am very proud of the IOI workforce and their ability and versatility to continue to change from one product to another on short notice. There is an urgent and compelling need for this product; IOI was contacted 60 days ago to see if they were willing and able to manufacture the A-22 cargo bag on a fast delivery schedule." "With the confidence of the IOI skilled workforce, the IOI management team stepped up to the challenge and committed IOI to start delivering by Dec. 1 or sooner," O’Brien said.
Due to the drop in sewing jobs associated with the loss of local manufacturing plants, there is less of a capacity for skilled workers in that field, Carpenter said. Tri-County Community College in Peachtree, an IOI partner, is offering a specialized industrial sewing program.
The manufacturing space for the new workers was supported by the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, Advantage West, N.C. Department of Commerce and other state and local agencies. Cherokee Scout Staff Writer Dwight Otwell contributed to this report.
Webster Enterprises Adds Jobs!
October 26, 2011
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Webster Enterprises Adds Jobs!
Webster Enterprises employees Becky Fisher, left, and Betty Brooks, fold a large drape used in heart surgery.
The manufacturing facility on Little Savannah Road is experiencing job growth and has added 18 workers since November. A community-owned non-profit, WE provides jobs and vocational rehabilitation to people with disabilities as well other workers in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. Plans to modernize and expand the plant are under way, and Webster has already secured $87,500 in grant funding towards the $200,000 needed for the upgrades. WE will celebrate its 35th anniversary this year and is looking for local government and community support and financing to help secure the monies necessary to continue growth and spur job creation, according to Director Gene Robinson. The new hires were made possible because of a new job – a surgical instrument cover – that Webster recently acquired to go along with the disposable surgical drapes that make up some 90 percent of its production. – Herald photo by Nick Breedlove
MARC-A Catalyst for Socially Innovative Practices and Collaboration
April 04, 2011
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MARC's Federal 2009 990 Form
March 30, 2011
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MARC's Federal 2009 990 Form
Press Release-Z Smith Reynolds Grant
July 19, 2010
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Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Awards $137,000 to the Marketing Association for Rehabilitation Centers, Inc. for Economic Parity for People with Disabilities.
Asheville Citizen Times 07.18.10
July 18, 2010
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Marketing Association of Rehabilitation Centers offers a helping hand – and a paycheck
By Mike McWilliams
For more than three decades, a Western North Carolina nonprofit has helped train and employ those with disabilities and disadvantages.
And now, with the help of a grant, the Fletcher-based Marketing Association of Rehabilitation Centers hopes to expand on that mission.
Earlier this month, MARC received $137,000 from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to support its MARC Parity Initiative, which will add $1.5 million in revenue and add 20 new jobs.
According to statistics from the National Industries for the Severely Disabled, people with disabilities earn on average one-fourth to two-thirds what people without disabilities earn. Z. Smith Reynolds is partnering with MARC over the next two years to support MARC's efforts “to improve economic parity between people with and without disabilities” and among the organization's member programs, MARC executive director and CEO Noel Watts said.
“New jobs will be targeted for low-income workers with a disability, including a developmental or physical disability or both; or a disadvantage, such as long-term unemployment, mental health or social dependency issues,” Watts said. “Over the longer term, three-to-five-year horizon, we expect continued business growth that will support 60-75 full time jobs.”
Founded in 1978, MARC supports 14 non-profit Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) in a 21-county region of Western North Carolina. The purpose of MARC is to raise the quality of life and increase contributions to society of people with disabilities through work and effective rehabilitation and enrichment programs.
The MARC work force is involved in manufacturing custom disposable surgical drapes and other healthcare products, packaging, manufacturing and assembly. Collectively, MARC centers generated revenue in excess of $44 million during fiscal year 2008-09 from sales and contracted work with for profit partners.
There are about 1,200 people employed among all 14 MARC member programs, with an additional 1,700 people served by MARC, Watts said.
Watts became CEO of MARC in 2005. Prior to that, he worked for the community rehabilitation program in Hendersonville.
“I guess I just have a heart for it and compassion for working to improve others' lives,” Watts said.
One MARC member program is Haywood Vocational Opportunities in Waynesville. The company has about 325 full-time employees as well as about 140 clients who have been referred there or enrolled in a training program.
The company recently acquired the former Wellco Enterprises building and plans to expand its operation there next month. HVO has been involved with MARC since the organization started in 1978.
“We've continued to see growth in the core business that we have and MARC has played a very positive role in us being able to meet the demand of our customers,” HVO president George Marshall said. “It's been a win-win situation.”
July 18, 2010
Golden Leaf Foundation
June 30, 2010
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Golden Leaf Foundation Features Article About MARC, Inc.
Advantage West Annual Report
April 30, 2010
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Manufacturing remains vital to the AdvantageWest economy, with nearly 60,000 workers and an annual payroll of $2.1 billion.
Western Carolina University Economic Impact Study
February 27, 2009
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The Economic Impact of the Marketing Association for Rehabilitation Centers (MARC)on Western North Carolina's Economy.