[nfbmi-talk] another sub-minimum waiver recipient?

[joe harcz Comcast]

Hi Matt,

As you can see in some subsequent posts including FOIA response the Michigan 
Commission for the Blind still pumps hundreds of thousands of dollars in to 
programs Like Peckham and New Horizons as well as Jewish Vocational 
Workshops which pay sub-minimum wages to people with disabilities.

It appears that MCB hasn't contracted services with Goodwill of SE Michigan 
this fiscal year in the last FOIA response.

The general Vocational agency here, Michigan Rehab Services plows even 
bigger bucks in to these programs however,

And 80 percent of both MCB and MRS funding is federal Voc. Rehab. funds....
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matt Sievert" <matt.sievert at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Michigan " <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] another sub-minimum waiver recipient?


Joe,

I agree no reason to not pay someone a livable wage, no matter their 
physical or mental state.

If they can perform the job then pay them accordingly.

Matt Sievert

-----Original Message-----
From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
Sender: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:58:19
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Reply-To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] another sub-minimum waiver recipient?

Michigan’’s Grand Traverse expanding plastic bag operation

By

Jessica Holbrook |

PLASTICS NEWS STAFF

Posted June 21, 2012



TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. (June 21, 3 p.m. ET) -- After snagging a coveted state 
contract, Grand Traverse Industries is expanding its plastic bag converting

operation.



The nonprofit corporation, based in Traverse City, Mich., provides 
employment and training to people with disabilities. It was recently awarded 
a five-year,

nearly $4 million contract to manufacture trash can liners for the state of 
Michigan.



To accommodate the project, GTI relocated its bag-making operations to a 
22,500 square-foot facility in Traverse City and added an additional 
perforated

roll-bag machine. The company also plans to hire 15-20 new employees for the 
plastics plant.



GTI currently has 25 employees in its plastic bag division.



The new plant will now operate two shifts on each of its three machine 
lines, said CEO Steve Perdue in a recent telephone interview.



The new state contract is for 12 varieties of polyethylene trash can liners 
and has a value of $775,000 annually.



In 2010, the company won a three-year, $99,000 contract to supply the 
Michigan Department of Transportation with five different varieties of 
polyethylene

bags for its Adopt-a-Highway program.



GTI also manufactures bags for area hospitals, colleges and resorts, Perdue 
said.



Prior to the expansion, GTI split its bag production between two locations — 
a smaller GTI plant and a plant operated by Plascon Group.



Plascon, a plastics packaging manufacturer also located in Traverse City, 
will continue to supply the non-profit with polyethylene and biodegradable 
films.

The partnership is part of Plascon’s turnkey Work Programs division – the 
company provides equipment, installation, training, and raw materials for 
programs

that provide employment to people with disabilities and to work programs in 
correctional institutions.



Plascon was instrumental in helping GTI land its state contracts, Perdue 
said.



GTI competed against larger companies, including out-of-state manufacturers. 
Perdue asked Plascon to provide film at the lowest possible cost, and 
Plascon

agreed.



“For Plascon to partner with a business like ours and to say it’s also their 
mission to create jobs for people with disabilities is very unique,” he 
said.

“They don’t just make bags to make money; they make film to make jobs for 
people with disabilities.”



In addition to plastic bag manufacturing, GTI provides employment and 
training in several industries -- industrial packaging and assembly, 
janitorial services,

vending services, hospitality and housekeeping services, and sign-language 
interpretation.



GTI has more than 200 clients/workers at locations in Traverse City, 
Petoskey, and Mancelona, Mich.



Source:



http://www.plasticsnews.com/headlines2.html?id=25779&channel=407
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