Kandu Incorporated is a not-for-profit organization that couples a menu of business, product, and services offerings with our overarching mission of building work skills and creating opportunities for people with employment barriers.
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Tom Vreeman or Peg Beall
Kandu Incorporated
616.396.3585
Kandu Celebrates Grand Opening of New Facility in Holland
Holland, Mich., October 25, 2007 – Kandu Incorporated is pleased to announce the grand opening of their new manufacturing facility on the north side of Holland.
The new facility, located at 4190 Sunnyside Drive, is targeted for LEED® Silver certification. Very few organizations in West Michigan have sought and completed LEED certification. It is a rigorous and demanding process. Only seven buildings in West Michigan – including the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center and the Steelcase Wood Manufacturing Plant – have achieved the Silver certification status. “Kandu tries to make decisions that are good for the client-employees, the customers, and the community, says Tom Vreeman, Chief Executive Officer of Kandu. “Seeking LEED certification for the new building just made sense. It provides a healthier environment, and it has a long-term positive impact on Holland.”
This facility consolidates operations from two former buildings in Holland and Grand Haven. Kandu started the process of consolidation in 2005, in response to the changing market. Through this move, Kandu saves significant dollars each year in operating costs. This enables them to be more cost-competitive, which benefits the local businesses that use Kandu’s services. And by being more competitive, Kandu can secure more work for the people it serves.
Kandu occupies a unique niche in West Michigan, and demand for their services continues to grow. In addition to the work provided for approximately 350 client-employees, Kandu also provides employment-support services such as resume writing, job club, and interview training for more than 850 people annually. Kandu has placed over 2,700 client-employees into local businesses over the last five years. Requests for services have grown 15% per year since 2005. Kandu creates opportunities for people to become contributing members of the community.
“Our new facility provides us with the means to expand our services,” notes Vreeman. “The skills that are required in today’s workplace demand extra training for Kandu’s client-employees. The new facility has ample space to teach new skills, which will in turn lead to new work. Many of the opportunities that have been previously unattainable will now be within reach.”
Kandu is also a partner to local businesses. The services of Kandu help local companies save money on labor-intensive tasks, re-use materials, respond quickly to market opportunities, and compete more effectively to win business. Income from these services allows Kandu to pay its client-employees a wage, and covers operating expenses for the facility. Kandu is not a state agency. It is a not-for-profit, self-funded business that creates value for both its client-employees and customers.
Kandu’s commitment to quality is an essential part of their success. “We take quality very seriously,” says Vreeman. “We operate in a competitive market, and so do our customers. We absolutely must provide perfect work every time, for everyone, if we want to grow. The fact that we’ve achieved ISO 9001: 2000 certification illustrates our commitment in a measurable way.”
The Board, staff and client-employees of Kandu cordially invite the public to attend a Community Open House on November 1 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. This event officially kicks off the community fundraising drive to generate the remaining funds necessary for the consolidation. “This is the first time in over 25 years that Kandu has asked the community to commit their financial resources,” says Chuck Vonesh, co-chair of the “Building Opportunities” capital campaign. “Kandu is an essential part of the West Michigan community. We look forward to working with the community to secure our future through this campaign.”
About Kandu Incorporated: Kandu is a not-for-profit organization that provides opportunities for people with barriers to employment. Since 1953, Kandu has taught employment and life skills that transform someone labeled “unemployable” into someone who does excellent work and earns a wage. Kandu is ISO 9001:2000 certified, and provides excellent services to seventy or more companies in any given year. Learn more about how Kandu partners with local businesses by visiting www.kandu.org.
(800) 747-0718