Enterprises
LifeSpan’s Business Enterprise model consists of several different business units within LifeSpan performing multiple manufacturing and service jobs. By creating a business enterprise division, LifeSpan has taken a socially responsible approach to business by taking a more responsible role in its future. The purpose of our affirmative business enterprises is to provide both employment/training opportunities and profits for our individuals. In keeping with LifeSpan’s mission of helping our individuals find meaningful community employment, our business enterprises will hire people with disabilities to fill its labor needs with profits generated going back into our programs providing support for our individuals. The business enterprises also create a great training ground for our individuals. The diversification of the work that we do provides our individuals with multiple training choices.
There are many thoughts regarding the benefits and appropriateness of profit generated ventures within a nonprofit organization. Nonprofits' use of business activities to finance their missions has been going on since the creation of the non-profit sector. Starting a business within a non-profit is a necessity in the 21st century if a non-profit is to survive. LifeSpan operates on a social enterprise model and utilizes a workforce of people with developmental disabilities and those without. The proven business enterprise model is a must so that we can continue with our mission to transform the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities
Today, LifeSpan is operating four business enterprises. LifeSpan’s revenue generating enterprises include Just Plain Country where hand-built primitive reproduction furniture is created in Troutman. Furniture is sold through the website, at specialty shows, and in a booth at Farmers Hardware in Boone on King Street. LifeSpan Woodworks is a niche business working in specialty wood cutting and assembly work and is also located withinour Troutman facility. LifeSpan Custom Sewing is located in Dobson and in Wilkesboro. This business enterprise provides custom sewing services to the textile, medical, military industries. LifeSpanCustom Packaging operates from our Greensboro facility and provides custom packaging and fulfillment services for the medical, education, government industries. Currently, LifeSpan has three new ventures in the planning stages. The business includes MARC Custom Medical Products (MCMP) that will be located in Wilkesboro, LifeSpan Arts andGardens that will be located at various locations and LifeSpan Cleaning Services that will be located throughout the state.
To learn more about our business enterprises, please contact Scott Mauney, General Manager of LifeSpan's Business Enterprises, at (704) 944-5129 or by email smauney@lifespanservices.org
