“Providing employment opportunities for non-sighted persons in a work setting that affords both income and dignity to the individual, with no compromise on the quality of the product.”
LIB, in Grade 1 Braille
Late 1960s
The N.C. Division of Services for the Blind asked the Kinston Host Lions Club to establish a facility for the area's blind and visually handicapped. The Host and Ram Neuse Lions Clubs spent two years studying it before a charter was issued.
April 1971
The company opened on East Street in Kinston under that name.
1975
A larger facility on East Lenoir Avenue, an amended charter, and the name it still carries: Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc., or LIB.
1976
LIB became a project of the whole Lions District and was associated with National Industries for the Blind, the non-profit through which federal work is assigned to affiliated agencies.
April 1981
The move to West Vernon Avenue. The building at 2600 West Vernon was expanded in 1986 to 13,700 square feet.
October 2002
The present plant, 40,500 square feet, and the plant where the Textiles and Military Embroidery departments work today.
2001
The apparel decoration division began: screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment printing and promotional items, at the same address.
The workforce is people who are blind or visually impaired. Employees with other serious disabilities work at the plant too, among them deafness, diabetes and orthopedic problems. Together they make the name tapes, swabs, bags and cases that go to the military and to federal agencies.
“I work here for 17 yrs. Great place to work. Good quality products. Great staff.”
“It's a wonderful place to work”
In the local press, Neuse News
Lion Industries celebrates 50 years of service to the community
April 16, 2021
Lion's Industries for the Blind celebrates World Sight Day 2021
October 23, 2021
Lions Industries sees growth surge, faces hiring hurdles for visually impaired workforce
May 26, 2025