Mission & Vision

Employment Enterprises, Inc. (EEI) has been serving people in the Little Falls, MN area for over 50 years. Although our name has changed, our focus on providing opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness has remained the same.

Mission

To empower individuals to achieve personal success in the community. 

Vision

We will be the Leader of individual services in central Minnesota. 

A group of discovery program individuals and staff enjoy a picnic in the park, 2024.

Our History

  • The Morrison County Day Activities Center, Inc., was founded to provide children and adults with developmental disabilities with meaningful training and employment. This program was offered as an alternative to being home all day with family or in a residential setting. As school districts developed programs for birth through high-school aged individuals, Morrison County Day Activities Center, Inc., narrowed its focus to working with adults with developmental disabilities. 

  • The agency’s name was changed to Morrison County Developmental Achievement Center, Inc., (Morrison County D.A.C.).

  • The agency moved to a new 9,600 square-foot site in the Little Falls Industrial Park on Ninth Avenue, NW. The site allows for more options for meaningful, paid employment and individualized programming.

  • The agency expanded by adding a senior program. This new option for retirement-age individuals was developed to provide alternative activities as individuals transitioned from active employment to less strenuous leisure activities.

  • The agency changed its name to Employment Enterprises, Inc. (EEI), to better promote the vocational aspect of the agency as its focus throughout the years changed from activities to individual employment and personal skills.

  • Another expansion was implemented as the agency stepped out into the community with The Clothes Hanger, a used clothing store in downtown Little Falls.

  • EEI remodeled an area of the main site to accommodate individuals with extensive physical challenges and severe medical issues who participated in program and vocational offerings. Staff working in this area, the Bridge, received specialized training to protect the health and safety of these individuals.

  • The Clothes Hanger program was discontinued to focus resources on community employment. 

  • A second site was purchased in downtown Little Falls. This site at 119 Broadway Avenue East housed individuals who were previously served within the senior program plus those individuals who chose not to participate in work or vocational programs due to retirement or medical reasons. The program is referred to as the Gap.

  • EEI achieves 50 years of providing services to individuals in Morrison County and surrounding communities.

  • A third site was purchased at 405 Ninth Avenue Northwest, Little Falls, to house individuals at the Bridge program. This site was purchased to allow extra space for those in need of services and to create a safer environment for those needing close supervision.

  • EEI partners with Transitions LLC to address wait list individuals who need one to one support.

    The Discovery program is developed for individuals who are seeking activities and community involvement over employment.

    The business office changes locations with program offices and is remodeled. The remodeled space includes a service window to better serve community, staff, and individuals needing business and organization questions answered. A conference meeting room is added during the remodel creating a space for annual meetings.

  • The Work Skills Development (WSD) program is developed for individuals to work on basic work skills to help them transition into competitive integrated employment. 

    An addition is made to the main site attached to the shop to house the glass recycling expansion with the intention to collect more Morrison County and surrounding community recycling.

    An Open House is hosted at EEI’s main site bringing together community to show the past, present and future of EEI. Recent renovations are explored by the public. 

  • The Gap and Discovery programs switch locations to better serve individuals in each program. The Gap program is now housed at EEI’s main site, 307 Ninth Avenue Northwest, and the Discovery program is now housed at 119 Broadway Avenue East, both in Little Falls, MN.

EEI Today

A client plays uno with a staff member.

EEI serves approximately 110 individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses and employs approximately 50 full- and part-time staff.

EEI offers a variety of employment services and day support services delivering them based upon person-centered thinking for all, which focuses on developing personal relationships, sharing places and activities, contributing, making choices, being treated with respect, and having a valued social role.