NOCOMO board discusses strategy to keep workshop open

The NOCOMO board met on August 2 to work on strategies to keep the successful sheltered workshop in business.

Recent federal law changes have caused a stir. Nicki Samson, manager, said Missouri is the only state that has an employee-based sheltered workshop program. Workshops in other states are funded through Medicaid. Samson said she believes Medicaid funding difficulties are the reason for the new legislation.

The legislation, called The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, addresses three issues:

• Workshops are an outdated model. Regardless of what skill set an individual has, they should be in competitive employment.

• Individuals should not make under minimum wage.

• Workshops segregate employees.

Samson counters that NOCOMO provides dignified employment for people who want to work. Individuals always have the option to move into competitive employment, with the understanding that they can return to the sheltered workshop.

Samson said returning workers have told her, “I wasn’t smart enough, I wasn’t fast enough.”

“Everyone needs to feel important,” said Tim Wilmes, board member, about the certified employees.

As of July 1, anyone 24 or younger must try competitive employment before being allowed to work in a workshop. Those who have worked at NOCOMO before that date will be grandfathered in.

Because of this ruling, NOCOMO has suspended its school program in which individuals could work at NOCOMO while attending high school.

Currently, of the 38 certified employees, 17 are making at least minimum wage. Samson said she believes she can turn that number into 25. However, board members and Samson are concerned that if employees receive a wage increase, they will lose Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps and housing benefits.

Board member Dr. Sally Bomar said one possible solution is to have employees work “fewer hours to keep them eligible for benefits.”

Board president Dave Lawyer asked the board, “can we operate this place under new parameters?”

“It’s easy to get side tracked,” Lawyer said about the various issues. “We need to focus on what we do here and keep the folks here employed. In two years, a third of our funding stream will go away.”

Paying the certified employees minimum wage and factoring in NOCOMO’s reserve funds and current contracts, Lawyer estimated that the workshop will lose $17,000 each month. “We could sustain that level of performance for a number of years,” Lawyer said. “We must be proactive in securing different revenue streams.”

Lawyer and Samson spoke to the Nodaway County Commissioners about the county-owned building the workshop is in and the SB40 money received from county taxes. The commissioners are looking into the matter.

Samson said NOCOMO is ranked in the top 10 of Missouri rural community workshops.

“NOCOMO generates revenue for the community,” said Samson. “We fill a big need in the service industry in the community.”