DePaul Industries incorporated in 1971 and opened its door in 1972 as a job shop. Over the years DePaul Industries engaged in a number of entrepreneurial efforts including lawn furniture, fresh squeezed orange juice and bus shelter cleaning. In the late 70s, DePaul began doing soldering and sub-assemblies for Freightliner Corporation, which soon became one of DePaul's largest customers. In 1989 DePaul started a temporary staffing agency. A security service followed in 1994. In 1995 DePaul won the distinguished Portland Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Growth Award.

DePaul Industries now devotes its focus to three core areas: Food & Consumer Goods Packaging, Staffing Services, and Security Services. All businesses are supported by certified training programs that prepare workers for ever changing needs and expectations of industry. Over the past five years DePaul has employed over 5000 individuals and paid over $43 million in wages.

Timeline

1971-1976

• Barney Comerford receives a grant from the Society of St. Vincent DePaul to start a work center for people with disabilities

• Henry J. Casey donates a vacant building on NE Union Avenue (now Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) to serve as headquarters of the new venture

• DePaul Industries opens its doors with five workers with disabilities

• By the fall of 1973, 30 to 40 individuals with disabilities are in training and working each day on contract production tasks

1977-1982

• The growth of DePaul Industries surpasses even the most optimistic of forecasts, as the budget nears $1.7 million

• DePaul Industries lands several new manufacturing contracts, new equipment is purchased and more space is needed

1983-1988

• DePaul Industries begins doing business with Freightliner Corporation

• The Board recruits a business-oriented MBA graduate as its executive director

• Major building renovations and additions begin

1989-1994

• DePaul Industries shifts to a business focus, while preserving its mission of helping people with disabilities have the opportunity to work

• Additional businesses and jobs are created, including fresh squeezed orange juice, lawn furniture preparation and bus shelter cleaning

• DePaul Industries begins a Temporary Staffing Services agency

• The relationship with Freightliner Corporation continues to flourish until it becomes DePaul Industries’ largest manufacturing customer

1995-2000

• DePaul Industries wins the distinguished Portland Chamber of Commerce “Top Ten Growth Award” in 1995

• A new business, Security Services, begins and has an immediate impact

• DePaul Industries partners with a local company, Scan One, to provide document imaging services to government and private industry

2000-2004

• In response to the economic recession, DePaul Industries streamlines to three core businesses: Security Services, Staffing Services, and Food & Consumer Goods Packaging

• Freightliner business dwindles. Focus is shifted to packaging of food and other consumer goods

• DePaul Industries’ Board of Directors approves a new, aggressive business plan that focuses on strengthening the organization’s financial condition and creating new work opportunities for people with disabilities

2004-2006

• Food & Consumer Goods Packaging Division opens new plant at Hayden Island and earns certifications as organic and kosher packager

• Food & Consumer Goods Packaging expands to nearly 100,000 square feet with the most modern production machinery on the market

• Temporary Staffing Services and Security Services aggressively expand into commercial sector and broaden geographic coverage

• During the past five years, DePaul Industries has employed over 5,000 individuals with all types of disabilities, and paid over $43 million in wages and benefits

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