Nishna Productions begins commercial laundry service

 RED OAK — It’s been a dream of the staff for the last eight years, and this week, Nishna Production’s commercial laundry service is officially up and running. 

Nishna Productions, Inc. (NPI) is a community rehabilitation program offering worksite experience to adults with physical and mental disabilities. After almost a decade of fundraising, the NPI vocational center was completed more than a year ago with the goal of increasing their services to include a commercial laundry.

To start, NPI purchased two commercial-grade washing machines and dryers for $33,500; they will be operated by anywhere from two to five NPI clients and supervised by one staff member, Dan Maher. 

However, this is just the beginning, according to Monica Bartlett, NPI Director of Day Services. 

Right now, NPI has two local contracts in place, Viking View Oil in Stanton and Red Oak Chrysler. Maher is currently working to bring in more contracts through area restaurants and hotels. 

As more contracts come in, Bartlett said they hope to expand to eight washers, which would require the work of up to 30 clients. 

More client workers also mean more staff members are needed. Bartlett said the community could see up to eight new jobs because of the laundry.

NPI’s service is the only commercial laundry in southwest Iowa, which could be a boost to the community, according to Bartlett.  

“The laundry is going to help keep local dollars local,” she said. “This not only provides work opportunities for our clients here but it also is going to help keep revenue local. It’s good for everybody.”

Bartlett said the laundry will ideally generate enough revenue to help NPI become more independent, as they now receive funds through county and state taxes along with Medicaid, which could go toward other NPI projects.  

“Like so many other agencies like us, we rely on contract work that comes in from outside businesses, and when the economy slows down, often times the first thing that gets cut back is the work that comes to us because we’re an outside contractor,” she said. “So that reduces the work opportunities for the folks that we have here and that’s always been a struggle.”

As for the clients, Bartlett said they’ve been anxious for the laundry services to begin.

“It will allow them a whole new skill set,” she said. “It will be something totally new and different than anything they’ve done with us before. It’s a good opportunity.”

“I’m excited for the laundry. I like to wash clothes and learn about how to do it,” client Daileen Johnson said. 

“It’s been a long time coming,” client David Korwes said. “I’m excited about it.” 

NPI serves around 80 clients on a daily basis through their vocational programs. 

Aside from the laundry, clients work in the public can redemption portion of the building at 210 Broadway and do contract work, including assembly and packaging for area factories. They also work throughout the community on custodial crews and help operate the Savings Central store downtown. 

“The one thing about us is we’re always looking for new opportunities, new ideas, trying to keep as much going as possible because the more variety we have of opportunities the more chances that these guys are going to get to learn that set of work skills and attain their goals,” Bartlett said. 

For more information on the laundry or to begin a contract, contact Laundry Developer Dan Maher at 712-520-4763.