National Disability Employment Awareness Month

In the 32nd year of business, Industrial Opportunities, Inc. (IOI) has a current workforce of 190 employees with 55% who have a disability. Tom O'Brien, president/CEO of IOI, stated that he is proud of the IOI workforce and their commitment to provide the highest quality possible, which, is crucial to all of their customers especially the U.S. military.

Since 1994, IOI has never missed an on-time delivery or had a shipment rejected for quality from the Department of Defense.

Industrial Opportunities, Inc. (IOI) has military contracts for duffel bags, chemical protective socks and gloves and deployment bags for aerial delivery. Also, negotiations are underway for an additional duffel bag contract for April 2007 until March 2008.

IOI is also manufacturing a tourniquet, first aid bag, medical bandages and a litter for a private company that has contracts with the U.S. Military and sales in Europe.

These contracts will provide work for 60 employees and generate over $1,600.000 in wages and benefits. O'Brien is expecting to exceed last year's $3,253,118 in wages and benefits that were reinvested in our community.

O'Brien would recognized his employees and the following local employers that have hired adults with disabilities from the IOI vocational training program. Employers from Cherokee, Clay and Graham Counties hired 22 adults with disabilities this past year.

Thank you to Badcock Home Furnishings Center, Cherokee County Cycles, Cherokee County Recycling, Cherokee County Schools, Clay Care Center, Clay County Schools, County Cottage, Downtown Pizza, Duncan Oil, Elastic Products, Gibson Furniture, Huddle House- Andrews, Ingles-Andrews, Hayesville, Robbinsville, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Lowe's, McDonald's-Andrews, Murphy, Robbinsville, MGM Brakes, Mundy's Heating & Air, Peachtree Industries, Phoenix Supported Living, Sioux Tools, Southwestern Health System, Stanley Furniture, Taco Bell, The Tool Shed, Town of Murphy, Valley View Care Center, Wal-Mart, and Western Forge.