Vend Engine designed to create opportunities for blind vendors to manage and operate inmate commissaries

11/27/15

Shared by Terry Smith, NFBEI

We previously announced the partnership between NABM and Vend Engine designed to create opportunities for blind vendors to manage and operate inmate commissaries.  You are invited to register for an upcoming webinar if you are interested in knowing more about how inmate commissaries work and the potential for blind vendors in your state.  The webinar is scheduled for December 10, 2015, at 3:00 PM EST.  You can register  at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8313521038075358210

The National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM) and VendEngine, an inmate commissary software solutions and payment processing company, have joined forces to try to create opportunities for blind entrepreneurs to manage and operate inmate commissaries in county jails and state prisons. The program is based in part on the model utilized by the Tennessee Business Enterprises Program, which currently operates 38 inmate commissaries in county jails providing entrepreneurial opportunities for over 20 blind persons, employing over 100 individuals. These commissaries generate $15 million in annual commissary sales, with the expectations of having over $17 million in the next 12 months. The average net income of blind entrepreneurs in these facilities exceeds $100,000 annually. There are only 3 or 4 other blind entrepreneurs in the country managing commissaries. NABM and VendEngine want to change that. NABM makes no money from this partnership. Its only interest is creating new opportunities for the blind.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.