History & Mission

HISTORY

Lafayette Industries is a sheltered workshop, founded in 1976 by a caring group of parents seeking employment for their grown children with developmental disabilities who had finished the Special School District curriculum. This resourceful group opened a one-room facility in Valley Park with 16 employees doing hand-assembly and packaging for area businesses. Since jobs were so scarce for this population and the demand was so great, the operation grew quickly.

MISSION

The mission of Lafayette Industries is to provide employment opportunities to persons with developmental disabilities and to persons with other disabilities who are 18 years or older.  

GOALS

  • To provide a meaningful and productive work experience to persons with disabilities  
  •  To maintain a safe and pleasant work environment  
  •  To teach and to train persons with disabilities to acquire better work habits  
  •  To enhance self-worth and dignity through employment  
  •  To provide high-quality business service through packaging, light assembly and commercial mailings  
  •  To operate the center in a professional, fiscally responsible manner  
  •  To provide fair wages and good benefits