Our History 

1951 to 1970 Phase I– The Beginning  

  • Established in 1951 by Lila May Kicklighter for her son Bobby 

 

1971 – 1997 Phase II – The Split and Begin Proof of Concept for Work 

  • Late 1960’s Split into two organizations The Kicklighter Academy and the Chatham Association for Retarded Citizens 

  • 1971 7209 Seawright Drive building is constructed by the State of Georgia and leased to Chatham Association and the organization begins operating as a sheltered workshop first working as a fulfillment center. 

  • Specialized Assembly, catering, print shop, and mobile cleaning crews are added over the next couple of decades.  

  • The organization changes names to the Coastal Center for Developmental Services (CCDS). 

1998 – 2020 Phase III – Focus on Community Employment 

  • 1998 sign a 20-year lease on 1249 Eisenhower building is leased from the Chatham County Recreation Authority 

  • Supported Employment is established, and we begin placing participants with area employers 

  • The strategy for the businesses shifts from sheltered workshops to social enterprise businesses with the expectation that employees will transition to community employment 

  • 2018 the name is changed to EmployAbility and work to transition from operating the social enterprise businesses to an academic training model begins. 

  • Summary of the organization going into the pandemic  

  • Grew to 80 employees / 90 participant employees in 5 businesses / 160 served in day services and 200 in community employment 

  • $5M Budget 

  • Lost over $1M from 2014 – 2016 and continued to lose $2-300K a year until 2020. 

 

2020 – 2023 Phase IV – Pandemic and Transition  

  • March 20, 2020 began the pandemic with 90 days of cash. Cut expenses to increase fiscal solvency to 3 years if Covid continued to impact revenue.  

  • Closed campus from March 23 - Sept 1, 2020 

  • Furloughed staff then eliminated 60 positions throughout the year 

  • In April 2020 closed social enterprise businesses and replaced the training model with the academic focused Academy  

  • Replaced Day Habilitation and Community Access Group with The Enrichment Center with a more inclusive structure and stronger focus on personal development and independence 

  • Moved out of 1249 Eisenhower building in August, 2020 

  • Rebuilt business model with a breakeven point of 70 participants on campus  

  • Permanently lost $1.2M of revenue (state budget cuts and discharges) and cut $2M of expenses for a potential $700K net positive budget  

  • Opened campus Sept 1, 2020 with 16 participants returning 

  • Partnered with Savannah Technical College to write 160 learning outcome-based lesson plans 

  • Life Skills 

  • Employability Skills 

  • Vocational Skills  

  • Partnered with Georgia Southern University (GSU) Special Education professors to develop and train staff in the Academy with cutting edge teaching methodology. Professors will be presenting this project at 4 conferences this coming year. 

  • Partnered with University of Georgia (UGA) Extension staff to deliver nutrition instruction to The Enrichment Center 

  • Developed a self-pay option for day services and a scholarship program to help participants that lost funding continue to receive services. 

  • Partnership with area YMCAs to deliver services at their facilities 

 

2024 – Current Phase V Expansion 

  • Celebrating Stratton – Largest and highest profit generating fundraiser in the organization’s history. Raised over $50K from over 30 sponsors and included celebrities from James Cromwell to Zach Gottsagen and John Travolta.  

  • Reintroduced rec nights 

  • Began partnering with Tormenta FC on soccer club 

  • Expand services to high school students via PreETS, Tours, and Camp Grow in Chatham, Effingham, and Bulloch counties. 

  • Expand partnerships with local businesses, colleges, and non-profits  

  • Rebuilt board of directors and increased focus on developing a volunteer base 

 

 

  

Expense and Revenue Reductions During the Pandemic

EXPENSES: $ (1,939,550)

Payroll$: (1,455,000)

Taxes & Benefits: $ (363,750)

Insurance: $ (101,500)

Occupancy: $ (84,000)

Telecomm: $ (33,300)

Professional Services: $ 98,000

REVENUE:  $ (1,239,552)

Budget Cuts:  $ (642,816)

Discharges:  $ (703,872)

Intakes:  $ 107,136

NET IMPACT: $ 699,998