Labor Source 30 for 30 - Oskar Blues Brewery

Labor Source, the supported employment division of Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department, is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year.

To honor this important milestone, each week I am publicly thanking and recognizing Labor Source’s many local business partners.

Supported employment offers people who have a disability the opportunity to develop vital job skills and become active participants in their communities. The benefits extend far beyond helping individuals served by Imagine!, however. Businesses using our services are able to reduce recruitment and training expenses as they benefit from a diversified employee pool. Partnering with CORE/Labor Source is a “win-win” situation that is beneficial all around.

We are very grateful to our business partners who have demonstrated their commitment to Imagine!’s mission by employing CORE/Labor Source participants.

Today’s Labor Source 30 for 30 partner highlight: Oskar Blues Brewery.

Oskar Blues Restaurant was founded by Dick Dale Katechis in Lyons, Colorado in 1997. Two years later, they began brewing beer in the basement of the restaurant. Their product is distributed exclusively in cans or resealable aluminum containers. They are the largest craft brewery (by volume) in the U.S. to eschew glass bottles. In 2011, they produced and canned 59,000 barrels of beer. In 2013, they employed over 275 people and distributed to 32 states. The company was ranked Colorado's second largest craft brewery and the 27th largest in the U.S. in 2012.

Over the past year, Oskar Blues has employed 17 CORE/Labor Source participants at various times. They have been employing individuals served by Imagine! since 2008.

Thanks to everyone at Oskar Blues for their commitment to our community and for providing employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.