Since opening in Kingston in July 2017, Community Manufacturing Solutions has built a manufacturing business around local employment and community support. The company has grown from a small sewing operation into a facility with more than 50 specialized machines, while donating 10% of its profits to local nonprofit organizations. It makes sewn fabric products for customers in fields such as medical equipment and industrial safety.
Support Enterprises, IncFrom its Jamestown, New York shop, Support Enterprises, Inc. turns customer concepts into sewn products as an American industrial sewing contractor. Its work includes military-supplied equipment and consumer goods, with a design team that can develop prototypes before production. The for-profit company was spun off from The Resource Center and works with it when possible to employ people with developmental disabilities, while directing a portion of its profits to the organization’s missions.JAMESTOWN, NY
Sew ValleyCincinnati’s Sew Valley is a zero-waste garment factory, sample room, and incubator that helps apparel brands and entrepreneurs develop and produce their designs locally. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit focuses on small-batch manufacturing while providing shared workspace, industrial equipment, education, and practical guidance for people building sewn-product businesses. Its sustainability work includes turning fabric scraps into fill and fiber boards, while its living-wage model and 513 Green certification reflect an effort to make apparel production more ethical and circular.CINCINNATI, OH
Lott IndustriesSince 1955, Toledo-based Lott Industries has combined contract manufacturing and business services with vocational training and employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities and others facing barriers to work. Its nonprofit operation spans a 160,000-square-foot production facility with more than 200 employees, while community programs such as the Lott Urban Farm and Inspiration Kitchen extend that mission beyond the factory floor. Lott serves customers locally and throughout the United States, making purposeful employment part of its business model.TOLEDO, OH
Human TechnologiesUtica-based Human Technologies is a 501(c)(3) social enterprise that manufactures and packages components for government and commercial customers while creating employment for people with disabilities. Established in 1954, its manufacturing operation includes light assembly, industrial sewing, and electro-mechanical work, from tactical gear and protective covers to robotics cable assemblies. The company employs more than 325 people across a multistate service area and operates an ISO 9001:2015-registered, UL-certified facility.UTICA, NY