Vallonia was first established in 1963 as a private non-profit entity. Its primary objective was assisting adults in the development of skills necessary to perform work. For the first 10 years Vallonia provided simple hands and machine assembly training for twenty persons in rented space on Arch Street with a staff of five. Midway through this first decade a transportation service was added, and a nine-passenger station wagon transported six young people from the Titusville area daily. Services were relocated to the present site at 78 Poplar Street in 1974 and Vallonia became the first architecturally barrier free building in Crawford County. Equipment was purchased to operate five training programs: food service, janitorial service, carpentry, domestic service, and lawn care. The station wagon was retired and an OVR grant purchased three twelve-passenger vans that made it possible for persons in outlying areas to access services. Vallonia’s program has become more diversified over the past years, but its primary objective of assisting individuals in the development of skills necessary to perform work has remained unchanged. Remunerative work provides the nucleus for training and for the maintenance of existing employment skills as well as job placement in the community. Continued growth in population and work training needs led to the development of an additional training site at the Meadville Industrial Condominium (previously the Talon building.) In response for more space, five thousand square feet was added to the south end of the building and loading dock was constructed for the transport of work and materials in 1988. Management and transportation were streamlined with the operation of only one site again. However, continued growth in population and the addition of more machines for training again necessitated the development of a second site, this time on French Street. This building (located across the street from the Poplar Streets site) was in operation for two years until 1996 when funding issues forced its closing. Once again the growth of our population and the production work necessitated another 3000 square foot and a second loading dock that was added to the south end of the building for the purpose of additional training space for our individuals. Due to Vallonia’s population and production work it was necessary to once again expand in 2003 on the south side of the building. Vallonia’s Community Employment Program has successfully achieved integrated job placements. This includes placements from a variety of venues, some being competitive, while others are mobile work force, supportive and supported employment models. Vallonia is committed to assisting each person in the identification of his/her current level of vocational functioning and providing a continuum of training that includes many options for employment and access to opportunities in the broader community.
