History

Tamarlane Industries has been in operation since March 3, 1983.  Tamarlane is the only sheltered workshop located in Ohio County.  The formation of a sheltered workshop in Ohio county began with the Ohio County Association for Retarded Children in the late 1960's.  This group founded and supported a private special education school located in the Beaver Dam Baptist Church. In March 1983, the Ohio County Association for Retarded Children reorganized and became the Ohio County Association for Handicapped Citizens.
  
With the passage of Public Law g4-142 in 1977, all handicapped students under the age of 21 were granted the right to a free and public education.  The Ohio County Association for Retarded Children began planning a sheltered workshop.  Several attempts were made to provide employment and training for handicapped persons out of school.  A limited number of individual's received sheltered services in Daviess and Muhlenburg counties.  In 1981, the Association acquired $55,000 from the Ohio County Fiscal Court to open a workshop.
  
In January 1983, Tamarlane Industries opened for services in a previously unused classroom of the Ohio County Vocational School.  Beginning that year with three (3) employees, the workshop served eight (8) people at the end of 1983. Initial work of gardening/greenhouse and printing evolved into sub-contracted work from local business and industry. The workshop currently serves 42 sheltered employees and 78 staff members. 

Tamarlane moved from the vocational school to its own facility in May 1986.  Work expansion and the interest and generosity of Young Manufacturing and the Young family made the new facility a reality.  The workshop is now serving the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation by doing five (5) day testing and evaluations on persons referred by them.
 
Tamarlane is designed primarily to serve the vocational needs of individual's who are mentally or physically challenged.  Employment and job training are the primary goals.  Referrals are made for other services necessary to achieve the ultimate vocational goal - work and greater experience.
  
Tamarlane continues to grow, we sub-contract work from Young Manufacturing, National Office Furniture, Daicel Safety Systems of America, Nestaway Division, Dart, Ritatsu, and Bowling Green Pallet.  Tamarlane is a non-for-profit sheltered workshop that depends on 86.5% of its income from our subcontract work.
 
Tamarlane receives quarterly funding from the United Way, donations from the community and one annual fund raiser, 'Taste of Ohio County'.  These funds have been used to assist with employee activities such as our annual Holiday World trip, family picnic, Christmas party, birthday celebrations and purchasing a new van and delivery truck.
  
In August 2002, with the help of Darrell Leach, Bill Wallace and members of the Ohio County Industrial Foundation, Tamarlane was able to occupy the former Thomas Industries Building.  All of the work Tamarlane does for Nestaway Division, National Office Furniture, Bowling Green Pallet, Dart, and Young Manufacturing is produced at this location.  
  
In 1995, Chef Anthony Tong approached Tamarlane with the idea of the Taste of Ohio County.  Since the beginning, this annual fundraising event has been a growing and exciting part of Tamarlane and the community of Ohio County.  The money raised from this event are put back into Tamarlane's program for recreation and equipment for our employees.
  
Tamarlane is governed by a private board of directors.  The board of directors is Bill Wilson, President, Jerry Bevil, Vice President, Fred Mayes, Treasurer, Ralph Porter, and Mary Pate.