Life Skills Training Center, previously the Plymouth County Work Activity Center, began in 1971, when a group of concerned individuals from what was then known as the Association for Retarded Citizens wanted a local workshop for people with disabilities. Their dreams were realized when the Plymouth County Work Activity Center, a workshop specializing in wood products, was incorporated on June 26th, 1972.
The Work Activity Center, which was in two classrooms in the old Central High School building in Le Mars, opened its doors to five clients on January 3rd, 1973. Within its first year, the Board of Directors was interested in adding a new facility. A fund drive and support from the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors in 1974 raised a combined $10,000 that help0ed fund a 5.05 acre building from the Northwestern Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) that finished construction in June 1975, Meanwhile, the number of clients rose to 16. By 1977, the building required more space, and another fund drive financed the $70,000 expansion. Two years later, a $25,000 loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) funded a 6,000 square foot warehouse, where raw materials and finished products from the workshop were stored. By this time, the number of clients served had risen to 42, but that number had decreased by 1982, as many clients transferred to the sheltered workshop laundry facility.
The sheltered workshop laundry facility, which was founded to provide a local vocational program to challenge clients who were progressing beyond the work done at the Work Activity Center begin operation on September 1st, 1982. The workshop provided linen services to local businesses and industries at a comparative rate, creating a realistic work environment for the clients.
At the time of its opening, the sheltered workshop’s only contract was with a local hospital in Le Mars, and it served four clients who were previously at the work activity center. By 1983, the facility expanded, and several small contracts were secured. In July 1986, the rising number of both clients and contracts at the laundry center allowed the Plymouth County Work Activity Center to purchase the building in 1986. A second expansion was completed in 1987, and in 1988, the work activity center changed its name to Life Skills Training Center to better reflect the services offered to clients. By April of 1990, the workshop had moved towards integration, and 30 clients and 18 full or part time staff maintained a production rate of 30,000 pounds of laundry.
The early 90s marked several changes for Life Skills Training Center. Funds were frozen are both the state and county level, and the market for the wood products created at the work activity center had shrunk. The Life Skills Board of Directors responded to these by pursuing grant funding to expand the laundry services and making the decision to consolidate all Life Skills Services at the laundry center. In 1993, Life Skills Training Center secured funding for a remodeling and expansion that was completed in May 1994 by Nelson Engineering of South Sioux City. Nebraska. In addition to a remodeled building, new equipment that could double the laundry facility’s processing capacity was added. As the capacity for laundry increased, so did the number of clients and staff: By 1994, there were 60 clients and 30 staff members. While the laundry center grew, the Work Activity Center’s Operations were slowly phased out. The building was sold to Smith Company or Lawton, Iowa with the assistance of NIPCO.
When the expansion and consolidation project at the laundry center was completed, Life Skills began to focus more on providing efficient and effective services. Job placement services were further emphasized, and Life Skills hired a placement manager. By November 1994, Life Skills added seven supported employment training sites, and the number grew to 12 in 1999. As of January 2026, Life Skills has X support employment janitorial sites and partnerships with five businesses who employ our clients.
In addition to improving services, Life Skills has also continued to update its equipment and machinery. In the late 90s, computer control panels that controlled water and chemical usage were installed on all washers, and air conditioning was added to the laundry production area in 1998 thanks to a generous donation from the estate of the late Grace Buehre. As of January 2026, Life Skills has also invested in technology and software for client and staff timecards, security cameras, client records, and donor management, effectively using modern technology to improve the experience of staff, clients, and partnering businesses and community members.
The Day Habilitation program started a Life Skills in 2018(?) to compliment the employment services program. The services were originally held in two conference rooms at the laundry centers and served X client. In XXXX, the Day Hab program moved out of the laundry center to X and again to a rented room near Fareway. In 2024, after being notified that the building owners could no longer lease the space to Life Skills, the Board of Directors decided to purchase a new, permanent space for the growing program. On May 1st, 2024, Life Skills purchased a warehouse on the north side of Le Mars. Wiltgen Brothers Construction renovated the space, and Life Skills Launched a capital campaign to support the buildings purchase and renovation. The Day Habilitation program officially moved into the newly renovated and larger space on June 14th, 2025, where the program remains today.
Over 50 years after its founding, Life Skills Training Center has around 60 clients and 30 full and part-time staff. Life Skills Training Center continues to grow and improve its services for adults with disabilities.
