According to John Faber, rehabilitation coordinator, NEMROC was started with five or six people in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church 40 years ago by a group of local citizens, supported by mental health and the Alpena Area Retarded Children’s Association, who wanted a program for people with disabilities.
Today, NEMROC is located at 800 Bolton Street, serves approximately 125 clients and has a staff of about 35. Its clientele is two-fold: those who work there and receive the rehabilitation services by making products and those who purchase the products, including the government.
“Our main function is that we are a community-based rehabilitation program for people with disabilities,” said Scott McClintic, marketing director.
NEMROC operates a saw mill, pallet shop, dry kiln for drying grade lumber and makes such items as vinyl chair mats, meter sticks and paint stirrers. One of the newer products NEMROC produces is a grenade box for the United States government.
There are also community employment sites where clients perform janitorial work, currier services, cardboard recycling and deliver meals for the Alpena Senior Citizen Center.
“We have people who work a couple of hours a week and people who work over 40 hours a week,” said Faber.
The majority of NEMROC’s funding, 99.4 percent, comes from the products and services it provides. The other .6 percent comes from donations. NEMROC is a private, non-profit corporation.
“We do not get any funding from the state or anything like that,” McClintic said.
In addition to the employee breakfast, NEMROC officials will commemorate the anniversary a couple times later this year by inviting local dignitaries to tour the facility.
Sue Latuszek can be reached via e-mail at slatuszek@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.
