PRIVATE SECTOR INNOVATION TO PROMOTE SUPPORTED WORK CONCEPTSIN THE HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

EVERMAY ENTERPRISES, INC. WILL INVESTIGATE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERGRATING SUPPORTED WORK MODELS INTO ALREADY EXISTING HORTICULTURAL COMPANIES THAT HAVE DOCUMENTED A NEED FOR WORKERS. WE WILL TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT WORKERS WHO ARE PROVIDED SUPPORT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMPANY'S PROFITABILITY. WE WILL INVESTIGATE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST AND THE OPPORTUNITIES EXPECTED IN THE NEXT DECADE IN HYDROPONICS--THE TECHNICALLY ADVANCED METHOD OF GROWING AND MAINTAINING PLANTS IN AN INERT, NON-TOXIC PH AGGREGATE AND NUTRIENT. USING A COMBINATION OF INTENSIVE INTERVIEWINGAND CAREFUL ANALYSIS, EVERMAY PROPOSES TO DEVELOP BUSINESS MODELS, FRANCHISES, AND/OR BUSINESS GUIDES THAT WILL ALLOW HORTICULTURAL COMPANIES ACROSS THE U.S., BY USING THE PRODUCTS DEVELOPED, TO SOLVE A LABOR SHORTAGE PROBLEM, WHILEEMPLOYING DISABLED PEOPLE AND MAINTAINING PROFITABILITY.