“Our social enterprise has been a wonderful experience that unfortunately could not ultimately solve the economic balance necessary to remain solvent,” said Kent.
Many of ARC’s over 60 workers are ex-convicts who the company trained in construction trades such as asbestos abatement and project management. Kent informed them that they would be shutting down a week and a half ago.
“You would think this is menial labor; it’s not. They’re being taught engineering, customer service and how to be part of the community,” said manager Tyler Payne. “When we come out to the community, children say, ‘I wish I could do that,’ and I hear one of my crewmates say, ‘You can; stay in school, don’t make the mistakes I made, learn what you can.”
ARC will host a liquidation sale today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its 280 N. Findlay St. shop in Dayton with 20 percent off all salvaged architectural materials. The store will continue to sell material every Saturday until ARC closes.
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