UTAH WORKS DIVISION EXPERIENCING GREAT SUCCESS

Picture: Steve Mascara, Utah Works Division Director & Dean Hoffman Utah Works Division Chair and Executive Director of Columbus Community Center

In 1990 the State of Utah passed a State Use Law for Purchasing from People with Disabilities, State Statue 63-56-425 (State Use Law). This statute was unsuccessful in creating any jobs for people with disabilities in Utah.

 In a proactive stance, UACS created our internal division we call Utah Works and we began to research the weaknesses within State Statute 63-56-425. Our research found that there are twenty-two states with successful State Uses Laws, generating 40,000 jobs for people with disabilities.  We began to work with these successful States to determine what needed to be accomplished in Utah to make our law effective.   

In 2007 we joined with Utah State Legislator, Senator Sheldon Killpack to sponsor an amendment to improve our State Use Law. We were successful in passing this amendment which created the Purchasing from People with Disabilities Advisory Board (Board).  This Board meets monthly to review upcoming state contracts for possible set a side for employment of people with disabilities. 

 Steve Mascaro, has been hired as our Utah Works Division Director to work with the Board for successful implementation of the program.  To date ten contracts have been set a side, which translates into jobs for over 50 people with disabilities!  We are confident that we will find employment for over 300 people with disabilities in the next two years and grow each year after. We are projecting that 80% will be service type jobs in the community through supported employment, and will pay in the majority of cases, minimum wage or higher.

 UACS is committed to improving the quality of life for Utah citizens with disabilities, as we have shown with our investment in the Utah Works project.

We would like to acknowledge of all members who worked on this project which include at a minimum; Janet Autrey, Director of Services for Tri Connections and current  UACS president, Kae Lynn Beecher, Executive Director of Cache Employment & Training Center, Bob Daniels, Executive Director of PARC, Dean Hoffman, Executive Director of Columbus Community Center and current Utah Works Division Chair, Gary Knapp, Executive Director of Enable Industries, Kate McConaughy, Executive Director of Work Activity Center,  Phil Shumway, Executive Director of TURN Community Services and past president of UACS, and Christene Jones, UACS Executive Director.