THE HISTORY OF MARIAN MOSS ENTERPRISES, INC.

    Marian Moss Enterprises was founded as the result of the hard work and dedication of a very special lady, Marian Moss.  As the parent of a child with a disability, Marian knew well the problems the disabled face, and the obstacles they must overcome.  She realized that the existing services did not fully meet the needs of people with  disabilities.  With tireless energy she pursued her goal to provide vocational and housing services to people with disabilities in Lubbock.  Undaunted by the many reasons nothing could be done, she refused to accept "NO" as an answer.  She lobbied locally and in Austin, and in 1977, she brought together six agencies that formed Lubbock Area Extended Rehabilitation Services (LAERS).   These agencies were: 

• Lubbock Independent School District

•  Lubbock State School

•  Lubbock Regional Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center

•  Southwest Lighthouse for the Blind

•  Goodwill Industries of Lubbock, Inc.

•  Research and Training Center in Mental Retardation at Texas Tech University.

     West Texas citizens with disabilities then had access to employment and residential services through LAERS.  LAERS acted as a coordinator between the various agencies and developed contracts for their workshops, as well as created a housing program.  The funding for this endeavor came from the Texas Rehabilitation Commission (TRC), through the Extended Rehabilitation Services program.  LAERS became a not-for-profit tax-exempt corporation under the State of Texas Charter in 1976.

     The housing program began in 1978 with only three residents.  This program, which served up to fifteen residents, was funded through TRC and the Texas Department of Human Services.  In each home, a houseparent provided training and assistance to the residents.  Many of these people had lived in institutions before coming to Marian Moss Enterprises.  With the needed supports, they experienced the freedom and independence of community living.

     In November, 1983, the Board of directors of LAERS made a decision to purchase Tannery Mattress Company (Direct Mattress) for a price of $89,300 and Lubbock Broom and Mop Company for $25,000 plus cost of inventory.  A decision was made for LAERS to put $10,500 of their money and borrow $110, 000 from SBA for the purchase of the mattress, broom and mop company.  The decision to purchase the manufacturing company was made in an effort to create funding for the vocational rehabilitations program and to provide employment opportunities for people with all types of disabilities. 

     In may of 1986, LAERS had grown to the point where TRC felt that the other workshops in Lubbock could procure their own contracts and thus state funds could be redirected to the individual agencies.  Then a decision was made to cease funding and LAERS dissolve to become Marian Moss Enterprises, Inc., named after the lady whose vision had enhanced the lives of so many individuals with significant needs.

     Marian's dream of a workshop to serve people with disabilities had been fulfilled.  By 1988,  the Industrial Division of Marian Moss Enterprises employed eighty (80) workers.  The employees, who had disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy to mental retardation, worked on a variety of projects.  The Lubbock Mop and Broom Company made mops used in the roofing industry, and Direct mattress Company manufactured new and renovated mattresses for institutions and the public.  They produced shipping pallets, paper sleeves for the floral industry, collated door to door advertising flyers, and other miscellaneous in-house contracts.  Marian Moss Enterprises had at this time, a service contract with the Texas Department of Highways and Public transportation for litter pickup and a landscaping contract with the District Highway facility on the Slaton Highway.  Other contracts included janitorial work and silk screening.  Revenue came from these contracts and from TRC funding.

     The everlasting need for funding sources led the Board to make a decision to participate in Bingo.  In 1988 Marian Moss Enterprises applied for licenses to conduct bingo, and began conducting bingo at Gold Star 1 at 224 Buddy Holly Avenue in Lubbock Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.  Gross revenue from the early bingo operations was approximately $225,000 to $260,000.  Marian  Moss Enterprises receives between 3 and 7 percent of the gross revenue as contribution.  The remaining goes for operation and prize money.

     Marian Moss Enterprises began to experience administrative and financial difficulties in the 1990's.  Many management and organizational changes were made.  In October 1991, Marian Moss Enterprises closed its housing program and dissolved the Lubbock Broom and Mop Division.  Referrals for services and programs services decreased.  By the end of 1992, forty-nine (49) workers remained in the program.

     In September of 1992, Marian Moss Enterprises moved to 501 East 42nd in an effort to house all the programs in one facility and to upgrade the programs and services, allowing for future growth.  A ten (10) year lease was signed with Wilkerson Properties for the property.  At the present time, the workshop continues to offer extended rehabilitation services, work adjustment training, support ed employment, community integrated employment, job coaching services, transitional services for high school students, and work skills training thorough in-house contract work, assembly and sub-assembly work, construction of pallets and manufacturing or renovation of mattresses.

     As of September of 2001 Marian Moss Enterprises employs ten (10) full-time and five (5) part-time administrative and support staff members.  Marian Moss Enterprises provides services to approximately 80 individuals with a variety of disabilities at any given time and serves approximately 120 individuals per year.  Services has expanded to include clients from Texas Rehabilitation Commission, Texas Commission for the Blind, nine different group home organizations, local school districts and private referrals.  Contract work has increased during the last year to include sorting parts for Tyco Fire Products, various packaging projects for the Med Group, sorting hangers for Unifirst and construction of pallets for Industrial Molding, stacking ball-bearing cages for Industrial Molding, drilling irrigation polyweights for Equipment Supply Co., Inc. and folding bundling shop towels for Unifirst.

     Two enclaves currently operate each day at Caprock Manufacturing  (injection molding) and Tyco Fire Products (sprinkler systems).  Each group consists of approximately eight workers and a working supervisor.  A litter pick-up crew was added this year, which will employ five workers for an average of  three weeks out of each month.  Six workers currently work independently in jobs in the community and also receive service through our workshop.  In recent years several workers have been placed in independent jobs in the community and have experienced tremendous strides toward total independence.