Chapman Dam Concession Employment Project-BEI

Problem to be addressed Bollinger Enterprises, Inc. was founded on the principle that individuals with disabilities can and are eager to work. They exist because the State of PA and Warren County have made a concerted effort since 1972 to provide and enhance employment and vocational rehabilitation programs for individuals with disabilities. Bollinger Enterprises, Inc. has been supporting individuals with disabilities for over thirty years. They began in a storefront with twelve consumers and have grown to serve a population of over ninety individuals in their sheltered workshop and in the community. Supported Employment Services is a unique non-profit employment service with a mission to place people with disabilities into suitable jobs in area business and industry. The program began in 1986 and in the past 14 years, they have, through the support of local employers, successfully placed over 125 people into community jobs. Supported Employment Services is used by a wide range of local businesses. These businesses provide various jobs ranging from fast food and custodial work to secretarial and industrial assembly work. Positions range from part-time to full-time with benefits. The goal of SES is to meet the labor needs of local employers through a careful job matching of potential employees who want to work. In the year 2004, Bollinger Enterprises was awarded a ten year contract to operate the food concession stand at Chapman State Park. The food concession at Chapman State Park is licensed by the PA Department of Agriculture, requiring proper food handling procedures and equipment to ensure public safety. They are limited in what they can sell to the public because of the basic and primitive utility infrastructure at the concession stand. Funding is needed to make the improvements required to upgrade the PA department of Agriculture license to allow the preparation and sale of hot food items. The concession operation is seasonal, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, offering full time and part time employment to eight people. Some private funding has been raised to support the project, but its continuation is contingent on revenues from the retail sales of food and boat rentals to cover wages and other operational costs. The hand wash station would help to achieve the economic viability of the CSP Concession Stand Employment Project. This project when funded will solidify and improve vocational job training benefits available to disadvantaged and/or handicapped residents of Warren County. In addition, the project will provide increased benefits to tourism and recreational users of Chapman State Park.	Chapman Dam Beach Concession Stand
	Penn Soil RC&D Council Member Janeal Hedman (left) presents the portable hot water hand washing station to Bob Klebacha, Director of Bollinger Enterprises, Inc. Penn Soil RC&D awarded a $1015 dollar grant to purchase a portable self contained hot water hand washing system to enable Bollinger Enterprises to meet PA health and sanitation requirements for a public concession stand.
Project Description The project consists of the purchase and installation of a portable hot water hand wash station for the concession stand at the park, which now has no hot or cold running water. This will provide the concession stand the ability to meet PA. Department of Agriculture requirements for compliance as a public eating place. It will also enable them to offer more choices of food for consumption by the public enhancing Chapman State Park’s ability to serve the recreating public. Bollinger Enterprises, Inc. (BEi) approached Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) in May 2005 for assistance in securing funding for the purchase and installation of a portable hot water hand wash system. BEi has a ten year contract for the food concession at the park, commencing in 2004, so the useful life of the hand wash system would be over this time period. BEi’s mission is to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The Chapman State Park concession has provided a unique employment experience that has been well received by employees with disabilities working there. Non-disabled concession managers are always present offering work skills training to employees with disabilities. Penn Soil RC&D staff worked with BEI to identify their needs and assisted with selecting a suitable model of a portable hot water hand washing station which was purchased by Penn Soil RC&D with grant funds awarded by the Penn Soil Conservancy Charitable Trust.
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Chapman State Park Concession Employment Project-BEI - a Penn Soil Project