Lafayette Industries North, Inc. Expanding its Footprint in Berkeley

On February 4, 2016, Lafayette Industries North, Inc. broke ground on an expansion to its facility in Berkeley, Mo., which will add 80 new jobs to the area. 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.

“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.”

This progress has allowed Lafayette Industries North, Inc. to begin construction of a 19,500 square foot expansion to its current North County facility at 4621 World Parkway Circle. Upon completion, Lafayette Industries North, Inc. will encompass more than 40,000 square feet and will expand its work force by more than 80 jobs over the next 18 months. Planned additions to the facility include 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.”

Lafayette Industries, a non-profit organization, is the largest full-time employer of adults with developmental disabilities in the state of Missouri and has more than 165 people currently on its waiting list for jobs. This expansion will allow Lafayette Industries to increase the number of people it employs at its two facilities from 373 to 500. During the past 10 years, Lafayette has doubled the number of people it employs.

Since 1976, Lafayette Industries has offered extensive training and support programs, allowing its employees to use their abilities in a productive and professional work environment. Lafayette Industries, operates as a 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. An additional facility, Lafayette Work Center, Inc., is located in Manchester, Mo.