Week of August 16th, 2021
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What can CLI help you do?
Ask Jill about her recent award from
Boots To Grasses!
John's usual--
I hope that everyone had a good weekend. I have 1 more parental duty to get my son set up in his first off-campus apartment at OU, then I'm officially an empty nester. To be honest, I'm not sure that I'm quite ready to have that much discretionary time again. I'm going to need another project to ease me into my new reality.

This will be a busy fall work-wise at CLI though as we start fundraising & light ADA renovations at Kenilee Lanes. CLI was awarded 2 grants to pay for a wheelchair ramp this fall-- and we're planning some pretty cool updates for the Norwalk High School Bowling Team's locker room upstairs. I'm meeting with an engineer later this month to work on the construction plans to raise the floors, add a large, accessible downstairs bathroom, and make the kitchen wheelchair accessible. Once we have legit plans/drawings, we'll be able to start fundraising in earnest.

James Johnson & I start our rounds this month, talking to community groups to see if CLI can find a investor/partner for Firelands Local LLC. It’s not considered proper practice for CLI to be both the provider of services and also the direct employer of our clients. This is the number one reason why CLI spun off our non-provider functions (shredding, assembly, recycling, etc.) a few years ago. There is also a strong second reason. We believe that by spinning Firelands Local off-- and allowing separate staff to focus exclusively on Firelands Local operations (not CLI’s provider stuff)-- James & his crew will be able to grow revenues more effectively. More revenues mean more jobs and better pay for those jobs-- and allow further investments in our local communities.

James & I are looking for other companies and/or agencies that see ROI in investing in Firelands Local’s operations. CLI was awarded a grant last fall by the Ohio Department of DD to develop our business plan for both CLI and Firelands Local to become stand-alone companies. A partial sale will help both CLI and Firelands Local by giving us a little more cash to invest in both companies-- and will help CLI comply with the Ohio Department of DD’s best practices of no having the provider agency (CLI) be the direct employer-- assuming that CLI is able to sell off 51% of our ownership of Firelands Local. We're working on our pitch.

That's all I have. Enjoy the outdoors while you can & keep those hands clean.
John
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It's a bunch of loud fun!
Firelands Local Update:

Well today is the start of the Huron County fair. It will be great to see people there this year.

I have commented on how our businesses have a tendency to cycle from slow to supersonic overnight. At the beginning of last week we were completely caught up with shredding and had just enough production work to keep us going. That turned into 7 more jobs on Tuesday and shuffling around to make sure all jobs will be completed on time. We also had a few large drop offs of shred and cardboard. We also scheduled 2 new shred purges.

We shredded 9000 lbs of paper and completed 28000 units of assembly.
James Johnson
419-921-6400
Good Works Cafe Menu:


08/06: Shredded Chicken w/ Mashed Potatoes & Corn

08/13: Chili & Cornbread

08/20: Mini-Sub & Macaroni Salad

08/27: Mac & Cheese, Green Beans
Donation Requests

Chili or Kidney Beans
Canned Tomatoes
Hoagie Buns
Deli Ham
American Cheese Slices
Velveeta Cheese
Mayo
Butter
Mustard
Green Beans
Applesauce

Donations can be brought to the Clubhouse from 9:30a - 12p or call (419)921-6057 to arrange a donation pick-up.

This helps us keep costs down and be able to provide meals each Friday at a low cost.

Thanks everyone! Here's to a good week!
Kerrie Close
Community Settings Coordinator
(419)921-6057