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Entrepreneurial Spirit
The Key Training Center subsidizes nearly $2 million of its $13.1 million annual budget to provide year-round services to 300 adults, with 164 of them calling CCARC home through various living options. The Key Center strives to be as self-supporting as possible, generating 39% of its 43% annual budget shortfall through revenue generating enterprises. Traditional funding for consumers is provided by state and federal sources making up 57% of the income. The remaining 4% is raised through the Key Center Foundation through membership drives, annual fundraisers, wills and bequests, charitable planned giving, and direct support.
Most of the Key's entrepreneur activities are coupled with opportunities for its consumers to work and earn a paycheck. These consumers, many of whom are profoundly disabled, come to the Key Center each day for work activities and social programming. Through the Key Center's sheltered workshop, consumers who could not perform in a competitive work environment, have the opportunity to work, regardless of their disability. The Key Center owns and operates two thrift stores and work centers that not only provide vocational training and jobs for consumers but makes up a significant amount of our income. The Key Center Garden Center also enables the nursery operations a program that provides training and develops positive work habits for our consumers.
Unfortunately, Florida ranks 49th in the nation in the amount allocated for spending to serve this fragile and vulnerable population. The Key Center currently serves 40 consumers whose services are unfunded due to the deficit created by the government shortfall. These individuals are on the State's waiting list for developmental services with over 16,000 other names. Due to the State's history of not meeting this population's actual funding service needs and the plausibility of continuous rate reductions, The Key Center must continue to take on an entrepreneur spirit to be more self sufficient and less dependent on government funding.
THRIFT STORES
The Key Training Center opened its first store in downtown Crystal River in 1965. Currently two stores are operating in Inverness and Lecanto.
In October of 2003, the new Lecanto Thrift Store and Work Center opened. The 12,000 sq. ft. thrift store and work center is located on the corner of W. Gulf to Lake Highway and Commerce Street in Lecanto, Florida. The project was financed through a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Community Facility Loan. The primary benefit of the larger store is to provide vocational and employment opportunities for mentally challenged adults. About 4,000 sq. ft. will be dedicated to a donation processing/work area where 50 Key Center program participants will be employed on a weekly basis. Program participants receive vocational training accompanied with an hourly wage for sorting, hanging, pricing, and baling donated clothing and shoes. The thrift store work center will serve as a means to provide vocational training, sheltered workshop, specific job skills training, and provision of job placement services with follow along services. The remaining 8,000 sq. ft. will accommodate the growth of community donations and be used for product display and sale purposes.
The Key Center's Inverness Thrift Store opened in 1999 and currently operates as a thrift store and work center employing over 50 program participants.
The thrift stores are open daily. Donated merchandise, including clothing, furniture, appliances, and household items in good condition, are resold at very reasonable prices to help Key Training Center operations. Donated merchandise may be tax deductible, and receipts are provided for this purpose.
Click here to learn more about our Thrift Stores
http://www.keytrainingcenter.org/thrift_store.html
47-WYKE LIVE AND LOCAL
In September of 1983, the Key Center developed WYKE, a low power television station, with the vision of furthering its mission through public education and producing a revenue stream to subsidize funding requirements. The station has achieved FCC Class "A" status and is currently operating on a commercial basis providing twelve hours a day of local programming. As an affiliate station of America One, the other twelve hours are dedicated to their programming.
With the advent of digital television, the Key Center pursued obtaining a digital license and converting WYKE analog facilities to digital. In February 2004, the FCC granted Key Center a license application for digital on channel 47, making it the first potential operational digital Class "A" station in the country. The digital facilities provided on channel 47 will increase the service population from 148,699 persons to 432,012 persons. The station's growth possibilities, with adequate capital and proper management, are significant. WYKE is a must carry on cable and will remain so as with channel 47 digital. WYKE is currently carried on all the major cable companies in Citrus, Levy, Marion, and Alachua counties.
For the past couple of years, WYKE has been building its audience base through local programming including public affairs programs. In 2002, the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council named the station "Outstanding Small Business in Citrus County". WYKE had no income from commercial advertising prior to fiscal 2001-2002. The station has demonstrated the ability to compete effectively with local newspaper and radio stations for advertising dollars. The Key Center believes there is a potential for much greater commercial income from WYKE.
The local community is taking a vested interest in WYKE as their station for live and local news. Local government agencies and institutions including the Board of County Commissioners, School Board, Community College, vocational and technical school, and City Councils are realizing the station's potential as being a key source for community information. The local Sheriff's department entered an agreement for the station to be their emergency broadcast medium. While others are planning to use the station in several innovative ways like offering college core credit classes and special county programs for seniors. WYKE has shown great potential in meeting the Key Center's financial needs.
In order to provide the best quality services to mentally challenged adults, the Key Center must continue to pursue innovative and lucrative business opportunities that reduce its dependency on government funding. We encourage the public of Citrus County to watch this innovative local television station for their news and shop at our thrift stores knowing that their support is helping support the mission of the Key Center - to assist persons with developmental disabilities achieve their God given potential through an array of individualized services that promote growth, choice, and independence with Kindness, Love, Dignity, and Respect.
Click here to go to 47-WYKE website with TV program schedule
http://www.47wyke.com
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