The Lafayette Work Center (d.b.a. Lafayette Industries) was founded in 1975-76 by several organizations in West St. Louis County. They wanted to establish a sheltered workshop for the developmentally disabled/mentally retarded adults living in the area. The workshop was opened in September 1976 in a rented building in Valley Park, Missouri with 16 persons who are disabled. Within two years the shop had grown to its physical capacity of 30 workers.
An expansion program was launched to provide more space for disabled employees. After raising the money to purchase land in Valley Park, a low interest loan for the building was obtained from St. Louis County Productive Living Board. In September 1981, the new building was completed and the shop was relocated. Within the next year the shop grew to 57 handicapped employees who were working full-time.
In December of 1982, the Lafayette Industries was one of the many victims of the worst flood by the Meramec River in recorded history. Fortunately, no damage was done to the building, the electrical circuits, the plumbing, the heating or the air conditioning. The workshop was able to resume production within six weeks. The workshop grew from 57 to 76 workers during 1983. Once again the shop was reaching its physical capacity.
The Board of Directors decided to look for another building or land for future construction. After a thorough search, a very suitable sixteen-year-old building was found in Manchester near the intersection of Manchester Road and Highway 141. The building was three times larger and more centrally located than the old facility. The investment was $850,000. The Productive Living Board committed a low interest loan for two-thirds of the cost and the Small Business Administration financed the balance.
In addition, the Productive Living Board extended a grant for the required remodeling needed to refurbish the interior. The workshop and 80 employees with disabilities moved into this larger facility in November 1984. Lafayette employs over 200 persons who are developmentally disabled.
On February 18, 2003 Lafayette Industries assumed management of ITE workshop, now known as Lafayette Industries - North ITE Plant. The North ITE Plant is located at 4621 World Parkway Circle, Berkeley, MO 63134 and employs 110 individuals with disabilities in a 26,000 square foot facility. The primary business at this location is retail shrink packaging of mylar balloons. A variety of other types of retail packaging and light assembly are also done at this site. They are also FDA certified.
On June 25, 2004 Lafayette Industries completed the construction of a 30,000 square foot, high density warehouse addition to our main location at 179 Gaywood. This warehouse can hold over 2,000 pallets of raw material ready for packaging by our employees. The warehouse addition added two docks for a total of four docks at the Gaywood location. Our total square footage at both locations now exceeds 85,000 square feet.
Lafayette continues to grow by providing innovative work services and work adjustment training to 300 persons with disabilities each year.
