In 2008, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. celebrated the opening of our first-ever satellite, Inland Northwest Lighthouse (INL) in Spokane after recognizing the need to create jobs for adults who are blind and visually impaired in Eastern Washington. Currently, INL employs 50 individuals, over 35 of whom are blind or visually impaired who work in production, customer service, information technology, program management, departmental supervision, and human resources positions.
On Friday, May 31st, 2013, we kick off the facility’s expansion with the Building Opportunities: INL Groundbreaking Celebration! This event will include carnival games, food, a beer and wine garden for grownups, the traditional turning of the dirt, and will be fun for the whole family! The celebration will be at INL at 6405 N. Addison St. from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The expansion will add 41,000 sq. ft. to our facility, enabling INL to provide employment and training opportunities for up to 100 individuals who are blind and visually impaired in the coming years.
This expansion is driven by plans to increase production in our wallboard lines, and to add three new easels to the product line.
Another exciting feature of the expansion is a new kennel that will house employee guide dogs during the workday. The new temperature-controlled facility will triple the number of animals that can be housed, while allowing owners and their dogs to walk outside in a fenced, grassy dog run area.
For more information on Building Opportunities: INL Groundbreaking Celebration, please visit www.inlandlh.org. We hope you will join us as we celebrate the increased employment opportunities for people who are blind in the Inland Northwest!
