November 2012

[Thanks to Dave Zedonis for reporting this event] 

Wes Bickers (account executive for the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Inc.) and Dave Zedonis (president of the Indiana Inventors Association) began to explore the possibility that inventors and the Smart Partners Alliance might collaborate for mutual benefit.

The Indiana State Use Program is a public/private partnership, operated by the Smart Partners Alliance, that trains and employs disabled Indiana residents.  The Program encourages Indiana governments (state, county, and other) to buy (without competitive bidding) products and services from community rehabilitation programs that employ Hoosiers with disabilities.  Participating disabled people gain an increased sense of self-worth, more economic independence, and inclusion in society.  Indiana governments gain more taxes and pay out less public assistance.

Inventors might also benefit from this Program.  Participating employers are eager for more work and can provide what inventors need – resources (facilities, workers, and expertise), goods (prototypes, products, and designs for manufacturing and packaging products) and services (manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and order fulfillment).

Stay tuned for our progress in developing this collaboration!  Thank you for working with us, Mr. Bickers.