Organizational History of Reliable Enterprises

1977:1977: Organization is incorporated as Lewis County Prevocational Center by a group of local citizens who were concerned about the welfare of adults with disabilities. Working out of a garage, the beginning programs provided training in basic socialization skills for individuals coming out of institutions.

1978: Lewis County Prevocational Services moves to the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds located in Centralia, Washington. The organization adds training and employment for developmentally disabled adults living in Lewis County.

1981:In response to the concerns of local parents of children (birth to, three years old) with diagnosed developmental disabilities, the Lewis County Prevocational Center started the Infant Toddler Development Center program (InToT). The intervention, education, and support services provided by InToT focus on the family and community resources available to help families with very young disabled children.

1982: The Lewis County Prevocational Center purchased its first building, providing expanded vocational training services.

1983: Janitorial business was formed with a crew of five individuals plus a supervisor. Also in 1983, the vocational program contracted with Lewis County to provide litter cleanup along county roads. In addition, the organization built a 2500 square foot greenhouse that provided training opportunities as well as commercial opportunities through sale of the greenhouse products directly to the public.

1986: Lewis County Prevocational Program is awarded a federal grant to operate the Head Start program for Lewis County. This program offers Head Start services to children from three to five years old, along with their families. Currently county wide, services are coordinated at five centers in Lewis County.

1988: The "Employment Specialties" (ES) division was started to create partnerships with local businesses that result in successful employment of program participants. Supporting services include evaluating each consumer's ability to work in a diverse array of vocational environments, as well as providing support during and after the probationary period of new employment.

1990: With the diversity of the programs within Lewis County Prevocational Center, the Board of Directors thought it best to rename the organization to better reflect this diversity. Lewis County Prevocational Services was officially renamed "Reliable Enterprises."

1993:Through a combination of grants, fund raising, property sale proceeds, and borrowing, the new Reliable Enterprises expanded once again with a newly constructed facility located on Reynolds Ave.. Included with this property was a house that Reliable renovated that acts as the administrative building for the Head Start program. Also added were larger greenhouse facilities.

2003: Reliable Enterprises takes on the Family Support Network. This is run on behalf of Lewis County, and provides information and support services to the area's disabled population.

2005: Reliable Enterprises contracts with the Social Security Administration to become a registered payee organization. Originally started to help disabled employees gain better access to their money, it quickly ballooned into a community wide service now in excess of 70 individual Social Security recipients who need ongoing help managing their money.