The Community Came Together:  In 1993, ReUse Industries was incorporated with the purpose of creating jobs, using waste and discarded materials, for low-income individuals. The founding members were comprised of representatives from four grassroots, community-based organizations: Appalachian Ohio Public Interest Campaign (now Rural Action), Appalachian Peoples Action Coalition, Southeast Ohio Recycling Terminal, and Athens County Department of Human Services' Adult Basic Literacy & Education Program.

In its first year, the board, staff, consultants, and community volunteers engaged in pre-development planning for the non-profit business created to collect surplus, damaged, and discarded materials and use these as supply resources to provide job training and job opportunities for low-income residents of the region. These efforts were supported, in part, by a national CHD feasibility grant of $10,000. 

Start-up:  In September, 1994, with 100% financing from the local bank, the board purchased a 60-acre abandoned farm near Athens, Ohio, for $53,000, a price well below market value. In the following months, more than 500 community volunteers joined 15 low-income core participants to renovate the facility, begin to collect inventory and open the business.

In 1995, while continuing to renovate the facility, project successfully collected 250,000 pounds of "waste;" generated $17,000 in sales revenue; and provided low cost materials to more than 1,200 households and businesses in the community.

Today, ReUse Industries is still a vital, community-owned, non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization that saves reusables from the land fill to support a sustainable economy, protect the environment, and create jobs. ReUse Industries receives donations from organizations and individuals in bulk quantities as well as small quantities. Items donated to ReUse Industries are cleaned, stored, repaired, and sold to businesses, agencies, and the public for reuse.

The Community:  Under 700 people live in Albany, Ohio, located in the Southeastern side of Ohio, near the West Virginia border.  It is located in the Appalachian Region identified for a high percentage of under-served people.  Of the 700 in Albany, 16% of the people are living in poverty.  20,000 people live in Athens, Ohio, the location of the store front thrift store.  In Athens, 36% of the population is living in poverty.  There is an 8.4% unemployment rate in Athens.

Important Partnerships:  ReUse Industries owes its success to the partnerships with community development organizations, social service agencies, the state, the Americorp program, and many others.  In addition to all the important funding and volunteer partners, ReUse Industries has found an important partner in Ohio University and the City of Athens.  Upon move-out of students, ReUse cooperates with the city to collect reusable furniture, household, and other items.

Budget/Revenues:  ReUse Industries continues to be supported, in part, by grants and community volunteers. Some grants received come from USDA, EPA, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of West Virginia.  In 2002, program income ($195,000) comprises approximately 46% of ReUse's operating budget ($424,000).  There was an increase in sales of 15% between 2001 and 2002.

Facility:   ReUse Industries still resides on the original 60-acre site and they actively utilize about 10 acres.  They have converted several barns and outbuildings into sales spaces.  Today, they have eight buildings in all in Albany, plus a 4,000 square foot storefront thrift store in Athens.

Personnel: ReUse Industries has 12 full-time staff, 2-5 Americorp*VISTA volunteers, and 450 active volunteers.  They also benefit from the assistance of 13 trainees from the Department of Jobs and Family Services, and 24 community service workers. To date, more than 2,100 community volunteers have devoted more than 13,000 hours to ReUse Industries, representing more than $78,000 of "sweat equity" for the organization. Additionally, 25 Americorp*VISTA participants have contributed more than 50,000 hours to the project to date.

Materials Handled: In Albany, ReUse Industries handles primarily building materials and lumber, hardware, appliances, furniture, and computers.  At the Athens thrift store, they handle primarily clothing, household items and knick-knacks.

Vehicle/Pick Up:  ReUse Industries picks up, free of charge, appliances, computers, furnishings, and other reusables in Athens, Albany, McArthur, Hamden, Wellston, and the Plains, Ohio, city limits. They also offer a fee-based service for pick-ups in other locations.

Clientele:  While Reuse Industries in open to the general public, they estimate that 80% of their clientele is low-income.

PCs To The People!:  ReUse Industries has completed Phase One of a new program called PCs To The People, a joint effort between ReUse Industries, the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services and Hocking College.  The organizations united to provide low-income residents of Athens County with access to computers and the Internet.  PCs To The People solicits donations of used computers, and computer parts, which they repair and offer for sale at a reduced price at their main facility in Albany, Ohio. In the first phase 200 computers were refurbished and redistributed in the community.  Now, in Phase Two, ReUse Industries is offering used computers for sale to the public, and an additional 25% discount to low-income individuals and families in the area.  They anticipate redistributing 400 computers this year.

Trying Out Deconstruction:  In 2002, ReUse Industries had their first introduction to deconstruction.  Working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the organization was able to salvage a variety of items, such as flagstone, sandstone, light fixtures, woodwork, bathroom fixtures, solid wood doors, and a wood burning stove, from two 50-year-old state-owned buildings.  While the two projects to date, the organization merely "cherry picked" reusable items, they are slated to deconstruct a facility down to the foundation this year.

Annual Diversion:   Reuse Industries has diverted over four million pounds of material to date.