At Laketran’s Monday, July 25 Board of Trustees meeting, Laketran signed a one-year facilities cleaning contract with Mentor-based Deepwood Industries.
Deepwood Industries is a not-for-profit corporation that provides employment opportunities for individuals enrolled in Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities (LCBDD) adult program who desire employment options.
Cleaning the Laketran facility will create 8-10 part-time jobs for Deepwood Industries, plus a job coach provided by LCBDD. Laketran will pay Deepwood Industries $2,000 per month per the contract to provide a workforce to perform all custodial needs.
Laketran provides over 300,000 trips each year to get people to and from work and over 40,000 of those trips serve individuals working through LCBDD programs.
“We have had a longtime partnership with LCBDD providing transportation services and worked together to secure Medicaid transportation funding when Laketran’s sales-tax funding was dwindling during the 2008 recession,” explains Ray Jurkowski, general manager of Laketran, “To hire Deepwood Industries to do our custodial cleaning is just one more way both agencies can help support our missions—and an added benefit is we are saving tax-payers dollars.”
Laketran has been providing transportation services to LCBDD for nearly 30 years. In 2008, when Laketran’s sales tax revenue plummeted during the recession, both organizations worked together to secure Medicaid funds as a way to maintain transportation. Now as a Medicaid transportation provider, Laketran earns over $290,000 in revenue that helps offset other declining revenue sources.
“It’s really a win-win for both agencies and our employees,” explained Elfie Roman, superintendent of LCBDD. “We both share a common mission to assist people with disabilities by providing opportunities to improve their quality of life. Our employees are some of the most dedicated workers you will find and excel in the work they do. We’re glad to add Laketran to our list of clients.”
Deepwood Industries maintains an expansive client list including Lubrizol, Ballantine Restaurant, Wickliffe Public Library, Willoughby Brewing Company, St. James Episcopal Church, Titan’s Gym, and Center for Pastoral Leadership.
“Our employees are very excited about working with Laketran,” shared Bob Fratino, Director of Community Employment for the LCBDD, “Many of our employees rely on Laketran’s services and they will take great pride in being part of Laketran’s success.”
