Job Squad and Ohio's Assets and Neighbors Initiative

Job Squad is partnering with many accomplished organizations and individuals on The Ohio Assets and Neighbors Initiative. The Initiative was created by the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission as part of its effort to refocus on Ohioans with the most significant disabilities using Customized Employment and Economic Development Approaches. Self-Employment (microenterprise) is a major emphasis.

Some of the partners: Griffin-Hammis Associates, Corey Smith of Via of the Lehigh Valley, Steve Savage, Patty Cassidy, Roger Shelley, Grant Revell of VCU, Jack Peeler, Don Lavin...

Check out the Powerpoint below for an overview of the project

Assets and Neighbors Initiative

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Jesse's BeveragesBar Rags & Washouse

Celebrates it's first 3 months of business

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Hard to believe, but it's already been 3 months for Jesse's business, and things are off to a pretty good start. So far, gross sales total $1,755. (Click here to see Jesse's grand opening blog post.) In June and July his Gourmet Frozen Beverage service was his sole
revenue stream. In August two more revenue streams came on
line, Jesse's Bar Rag rental and the coin operated Washouse.

Jesse's beverages bar rags and washouse1

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Commercial quality 100% Cotton Terry Cloth Bar Towels (Rags)
are packed in a sanitized bucket for delivery. When a customer
needs more all they have to do is call Jesse and order another bucket. The dirty ones are returned in the same durable plastic bucket and are replaced with a bucket of freshly laundered bar rags.

Jesse also started up his coin operated Washouse, which is his own laundromat within a laundromat. His first macine is a commercial grade 50 lb. gas dryer. After it's first week in use Jesse emptied out all the quarters and counted $62 worth. The host business owner isn't worried about Jesse competing with his laundromat, because the xtra-large dryer adds capacity and helps draw in more customers so both business benefit.

Eventually Jesse will have a bank of washers and dryers which will significanely increase the overall capacity of the combined laundromats. It will also free up investment capital for the host business owner to explore expanding the operation into new and different services as well as the size of the business location.

Jesse and the host business owner will reap the benefits of a commercial/financial synergy between the two business. Jesse
already has four local business that are renting his bar rags, as well
as a restaurant that switched from a large commercial laundry service to have Jesse come and pick up all their kitchen laundry so they can have it done locally.

Jason's Job Search

Jason Jones is a 21 year old from Bridgeport, WV who has been actively seeking work in the area. Until starting his employment with Marshall’s on August 17th, Jason never had a full-time job. Jason experiences traumatic brain injury he received from a car accident, causing permanent nerve damage on the right side of his body. According to Jason, "I now walk with a limp and have an uncontrollable shaking in my right arm." Lacking a vehicle and reliable transportation, one of Jason’s biggest barriers to employment has been finding a job close to his residence that matches his skill set. Approaching job searching in the traditional way of filling out applications has resulted in many closed doors and apparent dead ends. In Jason’s own words “Employers just didn’t seem to want to take a chance on hiring me. I wanted to prove to employers how valuable of an asset I can be to their company, but it’s so hard to do that by just filling out an application.” Instead of focusing on his limitations, Jason is now finding ways to break through the barriers using his strengths. Jason excels in interacting with people. Through his eyes, a roomful of strangers isn’t intimidating at all. Rather, it is a golden opportunity for Jason to meet and share his story with new people.

Since teaming up with Job Squad, Jason has been exploring new ways to “slip through the crack in the door” and demonstrate his many talents to prospective employers. Where the job application process only seemed to highlight his weaknesses, Jason is now approaching his job search in new and creative ways. Jason makes a habit of speaking to as many managers and workers as he can when he visits any store, hoping to create a positive, memorable, and lasting impression. That way, the application becomes more of a formality than an official part of the hiring process. The job opening at Marshall’s came about through a temporary job service program that gives Jason a chance to gain valuable work experience and showcase his strengths in ways that a job application and resume could not do. At the end of the work period, Jason will have an opportunity to stay on at Marshall’s or continue his job search elsewhere. Either way, he has gained valuable experience in the workplace and customer service realm, greatly increasing his chances of finding future employment in the community.

2010 PASS Update: $178,780,000 (About $179 Million!) Still Available Yearly for WV Economic Development

In December 2009, there were 25,540 individuals in West Virginia receiving both SSI and SSDI benefits. Click here for the 2009 version of this post, which briefly describes the "perfect Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) potential" of SSI/SSDI beneficiaries. The average PASS totals about $7,000/year, which means that there is potentially $178,780,000 available for these beneficiaries to use towards a work goal.

Some West Virginia PASSes from the last year or so:

• Resource Ownership
• College
• Self-Employment (still in negotiations with PASS Cadre)
• Determining a Vocational Goal

Over the life of these four PASSes (assuming the self-employment PASS will be approved), approximately $82,000 of additional resources will be set aside by these individuals for use towards a work goal.

Sweet Labels 4 you- A mother & daughter business

Shirley and Jenny are a mother and daughter team who created Sweet Wrappers 4 You. Sweet Wrappers is a business making labels for various items, candy bars, gallon and quart cans, clocks, first aid kits, mint wrappers, gum wrappers, sucker wrappers, water bottle labels, play dough and bubble labels. The products are a personalized option of celebration and memory creations. The business began in June 2010 and is located in Beverly, West Virginia.

Sweet Wrappers matches their personal talents, interests, and a shared desire to operate a successful and fun business. The mission of Sweet Wrappers is to provide exceptional high-quality personalized and memorable products that are convenient, affordable and guaranteed to put a smile on each and every customers face! Job Squad assisted in their business start-up by providing funding for initial costs through a microloan. For further information about this business please visit SweetWrapper's Blog.