Lott Industries

What Lott Industries does

Lott Industries is a Toledo, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1955 by Josina Jones Lott, that provides vocational habilitation, employment, and day services to adults with developmental disabilities while operating diversified contract manufacturing and commercial service lines that generate the revenue to fund its mission. Operating from a 160,000+ square-foot climate-controlled production facility at 3350 Hill Avenue with 200+ employees, the organization offers four primary commercial lines: contract manufacturing and assembly services (assembly, subassembly, cellular manufacturing, kitting, labeling, sorting, inspection, rework, recycling, reclamation) for industrial customers across automotive, solar, chemical, and metal processing sectors; highway safety products including traffic cones, barrels, drums, channelizers, arrow boards, and solar message centers sold to ODOT, municipalities, contractors, cable providers, and utility companies; walk-in document destruction services at $15 minimum / $0.25/lb over 60 lbs; and a community programs portfolio comprising the 7-acre Lott Urban Farm and The Inspiration Kitchen culinary education program. Named enterprise customers include First Solar, Clamps Inc (~20-year relationship), APA Solar, Erie Steel (with embedded work teams on-site), Spartan Chemical, and the Ohio Department of Transportation (12-year partnership).

Revenue is generated through contract manufacturing fees, product sales, per-pound document destruction charges, and donations via PayPal, with go-to-market executed through a direct enterprise sales team ([email protected], 419-346-1853), a walk-in retail shredding location, and community-led engagement through Shred-A-Thon events and media partnerships (13 ABC). The organization supplements its core operations with mission-aligned programs including vocational habilitation, adult day services, individual employment support, the Job Developer-led Works for Me Program (with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities), and Habitat for Humanity homeownership partnerships (since 2017) that have placed 8-9 employees in homes. Sub-brands include Lott Urban Farm, The Inspiration Kitchen, and the recently launched for-profit Hopability Brewing LLC joint venture with Anne Grady Services and the Epilepsy Center of Northwest Ohio.

Name

Lott Industries

Legal name

Lott Industries

Website

https://lottserves.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lott Industries is a Toledo, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1955 that provides vocational habilitation, employment, and day services to adults with developmental disabilities while operating contract manufacturing, highway safety product, and document shredding business lines from a 160,000+ sq ft facility with 200+ employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toledo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: Provides contract manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and kitting services to businesses across multiple industries including automotive, solar, and highway safety products. Revenue generated through production work completed by adults with disabilities.
2. Document Destruction Fees: Walk-in document shredding services with minimum fees and per-pound pricing for document destruction and recycling.
3. Highway Safety Products: Manufactures and sells highway safety products including traffic cones, barrels, drums, channelizers, arrow boards, and solar message centers to contractors, municipalities, ODOT, cable providers, and utility companies.
4. Donations and Charitable Support: Accepts donations through PayPal and other channels to support mission and services for adults with developmental disabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lott Industries is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that operates contract manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and kitting services for businesses across automotive, solar, and highway safety sectors, employing adults with developmental disabilities. The organization also provides vocational habilitation, day services, and supported employment programs for individuals with disabilities, alongside secure document destruction services, highway safety product manufacturing, an urban farm, and a culinary training program.

Product overview

Lott Industries is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing vocational training, employment services, and day programs for adults with developmental disabilities since 1955. The organization operates as a multi-service provider offering contract manufacturing and assembly services (including Highway Safety Products), secure Document Destruction Services, Vocational Habilitation and Adult Day Services, Individual Employment Support, and community programs including the Lott Urban Farm and The Inspiration Kitchen culinary program. With over 200 employees and 160,000+ square feet of production facility, Lott serves both as a workforce solution provider to businesses and as a service provider helping individuals with disabilities achieve independence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lott Urban Farm: 7-acre urban farm providing training opportunities for Lott employees and growing produce for The Inspiration Kitchen and Food For Thought food pantries
• The Inspiration Kitchen
• Hopability Brewing LLC

Products and services

• Contract Manufacturing Services Contract manufacturing, assembly, subassembly, cellular manufacturing, rework, kitting, labeling, sorting, inspection, and packaging services for businesses across automotive, solar, chemical, and industrial sectors. Production is performed by over 200 employees, including adults with developmental disabilities, in a 160,000+ square foot climate-controlled facility.
• Highway Safety Products Manufactures and sells traffic safety products including cones, barrels, drums, channelizers, highway arrow boards, and solar message centers. Products are sold to contractors, municipalities, ODOT, cable providers, and utility companies. Lott adds reflective stripes and stenciling to construction drums and cones.
• Document Destruction Services Secure document shredding and destruction services offered to businesses and individuals through walk-in services. Pricing is $15 minimum up to 60 lbs and $0.25 per pound for weight over 60 pounds. Available Monday-Friday 8:30am-11:30am and 12:45pm-2:30pm. One of few locations in the county for document destruction.
• Vocational Habilitation Services Job training and employment services for adults with developmental disabilities, offering work opportunities in production, packaging, assembly, kitting, labeling, sorting, inspection, and janitorial work within Lott's contract manufacturing operations.
• Adult Day Services (Day Habilitation) Day program services teaching life fundamentals to individuals with developmental disabilities through creative, diverse activities focused on person-centered goals including vocational habilitation, supported group employment, and community integration.
• Individual Employment Support One-on-one employment support services helping individuals with disabilities learn job tasks, technology skills, and workplace collaboration based on their interests, strengths, and career goals.
• Community Work Crews Mobile work crews that make local business environments more productive through janitorial and other services for businesses in the Northwest Ohio area.
• Lott Urban Farm Seven-acre urban farm providing training opportunities for Lott employees and growing fresh produce for The Inspiration Kitchen and Food For Thought food pantries. Includes wetlands restoration project in partnership with Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District.
• The Inspiration Kitchen Culinary education and life transformation program providing individuals with skills training and second-chance learning opportunities leading to employment in the food industry. No tuition cost to students. 40 students graduated in 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 students graduated from The Inspiration Kitchen culinary program in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Food for ThoughtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Mobile food pantry partnership where Lott hosts a pantry stocked with resources. In 2025, served 3,000 families. Lott's Urban Farm also produced 2,500 pounds of fresh produce for their pantries.
• First SolarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for 2 years with leading American solar technology company. Lott manufactures solar panel shipping mats ensuring safe, effective delivery. Partnership has provided hundreds of adults with developmental disabilities meaningful work at local and international levels.
• Maumee Valley Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership since 2017 to help Lott employees become homeowners. Through this partnership, 9 Lott employees have received homes, changing their lives through homeownership. Partnership includes house blessing ceremonies for new homeowners.
• Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 201312-year partnership selling construction drums and cones to help keep roads and construction workers safe across the state. Lott adds reflective stripes and stenciling, having sold hundreds of thousands of products.
• Water for IshamelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides job opportunities to Water for Ishamel clients who are immigrants and refugees trying to assimilate into American society. Many women in the program get their very first job opportunity through this partnership.
• W.E.S. and I IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWidow empowerment organization. Partnership provides employment opportunities and support for widows.
• Clamps InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerToledo-based supplier and manufacturer of automotive and heavy-duty muffler clamps. Partnership for close to 20 years providing hundreds of people with disabilities opportunity to work, learn, and build meaningful business impact.
• APA SolarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar racking products manufacturer designed and engineered in Napoleon, Ohio. Partnership for three years with Lott assembling hardware used in solar field installations handling millions of parts.
• Erie SteelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeat treating services provider for large manufacturers and smaller needs. Lott completes contract work on work floor and has two work teams working directly at their facility.
• Lucas Soil and Water Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for wetlands restoration project behind Lott's Hill Avenue property. In 2026, started reconstruction of wetlands area to restore land to original state and prevent polluted runoff from entering Lake Erie.
• Opportunities for Ohioans with DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Works for Me Program that teaches individuals about employment and job opportunities. Job Developers work one-on-one to teach application process, help create resumes, practice interviews, learn time management skills, and search for jobs.
• Hopability Brewing LLCstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-of-its-kind collaboration with Anne Grady Services and The Epilepsy Center of Northwest Ohio to launch a for-profit brewery creating meaningful, sustainable employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.
• 13 ABCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for Shred-A-Thon events. 13 ABC co-hosts Shred-A-Thon Day at Lott Industries, helping to securely shred and recycle thousands of pounds of paper while raising community awareness.
• The Inspiration KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLott hosts The Inspiration Kitchen culinary education program within their facility. Saundra Irvine serves as Executive Director. Program provides process and systems-oriented workforce training for individuals with significant barriers, with no tuition cost for students. 40 students graduated in 2025.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Melwood: Non-profit organization providing contract manufacturing, document shredding, horticultural services, and staffing for people with disabilities — almost identical operating model to Lott, including the integration of vocational services with revenue-generating business lines.
• PROVAIL: Seattle-area non-profit offering contract manufacturing, packaging, assembly, and document destruction services alongside employment supports for people with disabilities — directly comparable mission, customer mix, and service portfolio to Lott.
• Plasticade: Manufacturer of traffic safety products including cones, barricades, drums, and channelizers sold to contractors, municipalities, and utility companies. Direct competitor in the same highway safety product categories that Lott supplies to ODOT and regional buyers.
• The Chimes: Mid-Atlantic non-profit providing employment, vocational training, and contract services (manufacturing, packaging, fulfillment, document shredding) for people with disabilities. Closely mirrors Lott's integrated mission-plus-contract-services model.
• TraffiCalm Systems: Manufacturer of traffic safety devices including arrow boards, message boards, and MUTCD-compliant warning systems — directly competing with Lott's highway arrow boards and solar message centers sold to ODOT, contractors, and utility buyers.
• Opportunities Unlimited: Non-profit providing vocational, residential, and contract services (assembly, packaging, document shredding) for individuals with disabilities in the Midwest. Operates a comparable integrated mission and contract manufacturing model to Lott.

Broad incumbents

• SourceAmerica: National AbilityOne-program non-profit that connects agencies serving people with disabilities to federal contract opportunities. Comparable mission and federal-contract channel, but operates at a much broader, national scale than Lott's regional model.
• Trinity Highway Products (Lindsay Corporation): Established manufacturer of highway safety products including barriers, crash cushions, and delineators serving DOTs and contractors nationwide. Overlaps directly with Lott's highway safety products line (cones, drums, barrels, channelizers) but at significantly larger scale and broader product range.
• Iron Mountain: Global records management and secure document shredding provider serving enterprise customers. Overlaps with Lott's Document Destruction Services line at vastly larger scale and with national service coverage.
• Stericycle (Shred-it): National provider of shred-it document destruction services and compliance solutions. Direct overlap with Lott's walk-in and recurring shredding business, but at much broader geographic scale and with a more enterprise-focused sales motion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lottserves
• Xx.com/lottserves
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lott-industries-incorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lott Industries