Correction: At least 29 of the 44 jobs to be created at Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind between now and December 2016 will be designated for people who are blind or visually impaired. This article reported an incorrect amount.
A Little Rock manufacturing company that works to train and employ people who are blind or visually impaired plans to create 44 new jobs by next year with the help of two grants it received from the state and the U.S. Conference of Mayors this month.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors announced at its annual conference in San Francisco on Sunday that it will award Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind $150,000 to help fund a new production line.
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission agreed earlier in the month to commit up to $118,130 in economic infrastructure funds to be used for equipment and training costs to allow the company to add that line and another new product.
The addition of the two lines is expected to create 44 new jobs -- at least 10 of which will be for the blind or visually impaired -- at an average wage of $9.48 per hour by December 2016.
The city of Little Rock selected Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind from other local applicants to apply on Little Rock's behalf for the U.S. Conference of Mayors grant, which is funded through a partnership with Wells Fargo & Co.
"I just think this is really exciting because for that amount of money they have raised through these two grants, they are going to be able to put 44 people to work. I mean that's exciting," said Caran Curry, the city's grants coordinator.
Founded in 1940, Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind, at 6818 Murray St. in Little Rock, employs about 100 people -- both seeing and visually impaired or blind -- and manufactures products for government clients.
Employees make about 60,000 T-shirts and 8,000 utility belts for the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy each month, as well as more than 1 million steno books and 22 other types of paper office products for the General Services Administration.
With the new grant money, the nonprofit will expand its line to produce an "Inclement Weather Outer Layers" line, which is a special climate control jacket for the U.S. Army, and a "Flight Deck Crewman's Jersey" for the military. It also will expand its existing lines.
Some of the money will be used for equipment. The nonprofit adapts equipment to allow jobs to be done by people who are blind or visually impaired.
Arkansas has the second-largest blind and visually impaired population per capita in the United States, according to a U.S. Conference of Mayors news release. That population nationwide faces 70 percent unemployment.
"A lot of time they've given up on employment; they've tried so many places and didn't find anything, and now we are searching for them instead of the other way around," said Bethany Howell, the business development and awareness manager at Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind.
The organization is hiring immediately, with 19 positions currently open, Howell said.
Interested applicants can call the main number at (501) 562-2222 and follow the automated message for the recruiting and human resources option to speak with someone to get an application.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo selected three cities in three categories -- large population, medium population and small population -- out of 162 applicants for the economic grants.
Baltimore took the large category and West Sacramento, Calif., won the small category.
The awards recognize programs "that promote long-term economic prosperity and improve the quality of life for residents in three categories: neighborhood stabilization, economic development and job creation," the news release said.
The conference also recognized Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola for his leadership in developing local programs that create jobs. He attended the conference, which ended Monday.
"This is a great testimony to the work that Lighthouse for the Blind is doing," Stodola said.
"This is going to provide over $5 million in additional annual military contracts. It's a great shot in the arm for them, a great compliment to the city and I think a great compliment to the partnership the U.S. Conference of Mayors has with a variety of corporations in the country, in this instance Wells Fargo. ...It makes membership in the U.S. Conference of Mayors well worthwhile."
Metro on 06/23/2015