South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind

What South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind does

South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) non-profit manufacturer founded in 1964 and headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas, whose primary mission is to create employment for blind and visually impaired individuals. The organization employs approximately 200 people across a 70,000-plus square foot headquarters on Agnes Street and a second manufacturing facility in Victoria, Texas. Operations are ISO 9001 certified, and the company participates in the federal AbilityOne program through its affiliation with National Industries for the Blind (NIB), which structures much of its access to government procurement.

The company manufactures a diversified portfolio of products including tissue and paper goods (approximately 12 million rolls per year), USPS plastic mail trays (3 million-plus annually across 10-plus machines), sewn goods (gloves, chinstraps, and 120,000-plus neck gaiters since May 2020), binders, index tabs, kitting/assembly services, and sandbags. Production leverages equipment modified for blind and visually impaired operators, along with specialized capabilities such as FDA clean room, Berry Compliant, and ISO 9001 quality systems.

The business model combines government and military manufacturing contracts (USPS, DoD, Navy, GSA, State of Texas) with a network of seven Base Supply Centers located on military installations across Texas, Mississippi, California, and Hawaii, an e-commerce platform (1StoreSolutions), and philanthropic donations. Roughly 70% of the mission is oriented toward government and military customers, with a smaller set of commercial relationships including Avery, Fastenal, Momar, and Sirchie.

Name

South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind

Legal name

South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind

Website

https://stlb.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

A 501(c)(3) non-profit manufacturer founded in 1964 that employs blind and visually impaired individuals to produce tissue, mail trays, sewn goods, and office supplies, serving government, military, and commercial customers across four states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Corpus Christi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Manufacturing Contracts: ISO 9001 certified manufacturing of office products (binders, index tabs, mouse pads), military supplies (gloves, chin straps), and government products sold through AbilityOne program. Products include three-ring binders, candles, mail trays, and specialized items.
2. Base Supply Center Operations: Operation of 7 Base Supply Centers on military installations (NAS Corpus Christi, NAS Kingsville, Columbus AFB, NAS Meridian, Travis AFB, Sierra Army Depot, US Coast Guard Honolulu) offering office supplies, tools, technology, and furniture with desktop delivery.
3. E-commerce Sales: 1StoreSolutions.com online store offering thousands of AbilityOne and commercial items including products from HP, Hon, Master Lock, Clorox, 3M, Avery, Under Armour, Sony, Xerox. Orders ship same-day if placed before 3:00 p.m. CST.
4. Donations and Charitable Support: 501(c)(3) charitable organization receiving financial donations, in-kind donations, and volunteer support. Donations fund employment opportunities, skills training, adaptive technology, and facility improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind (stlb) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ISO 9001 certified contract manufacturer employing blind and visually impaired individuals to produce office products (3-ring binders, index tabs, mouse pads), military supplies (gloves, ACH chinstraps, mail trays), tissue products (toilet paper conversion), plastic tray conversion, and kitting services. The organization operates 7 Base Supply Centers on military installations and an e-commerce platform (1StoreSolutions.com) selling AbilityOne-compliant items to government, military, and commercial buyers. All production equipment is specially modified to accommodate legally blind operators.

Product overview

South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind (stlb™) is a nonprofit manufacturing organization offering a diverse portfolio of products and retail services. Their core offering is manufacturing capabilities spanning office products (3-ring binders, index tabs, mouse pads), safety equipment (Flyer's gloves, Mechanic's gloves, Impact gloves, sand bags), tissue/toilet paper production, and specialized products (Momar Weapon CLP wipes, plastic tray conversion, kitting services). They operate 7 Base Supply Centers at military installations and an ecommerce platform (1StoreSolutions) offering thousands of AbilityOne® compliant items. Their manufacturing is ISO 9001 certified and serves federal and state government agencies through various procurement channels including GSA and BuyBoard contracts. The organization employs blind and visually impaired individuals and modifies equipment to accommodate operators with vision loss.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1StoreSolutions E-commerce Platform Online storefront offering thousands of AbilityOne and compliant commercial items including office supplies, tools, technology, and furniture to military, government, civilian businesses, and state agencies. Available on GSA, DoD Email, and Navy Corridor procurement channels with same-day shipping for orders placed before 3pm CST.
• 3-Ring Binders Three-ring binders produced for federal and state government customers in over 350 SKUs including round ring, D-ring, vinyl, poly, presentation, and storage options with customizable configurations.
• Index Tabs Index tabs including table of contents variants with pre-labeled customizable cover sheets, with partnership on Avery's patent index maker line for fully customizable tabs straight from printers.
• Mouse Pads Computer mouse pads and wrist pads evolved from typewriter pads, supplied to Federal and state agencies through the AbilityOne program.
• Toilet Paper / Tissue Conversion Tissue conversion service producing 12 million toilet paper rolls annually through specially modified Italian converting machines for blind operators, supplying 4"x4" 500-sheet 4 oz rolls to State of Texas Agencies under year-round contracts.
• Plastic Tray Conversion Services Plastic mail tray conversion producing over 3 million trays per year with custom ultrasonic welding and automated folding/welding machines engineered by stlb's own team. Serves USPS, commercial companies, and online fulfillment centers.
• Kitting Services Contract kitting operations performed in an FDA control number certified clean room, including spring kits, Avery index maker line products, DNA and toxicology kits for the Texas State WorkQuest program, and Sirchie forensic kits.
• Momar Weapon CLP Wipes High-performance all-in-one firearm cleaner, lubricant, and protectant wipes packaged by stlb for Momar. Available in individual pouch wipes (5"x8", 10 per box) and canisters (7"x6", 160 wipes per canister). Listed on GSA Schedule #GS-07F-0019W and BuyBoard contract 657-21.
• Mechanic's Gloves Mechanic's gloves produced for the Federal Government at over 50,000 pairs annually. Unfinished gloves arrive from overseas and are completed at stlb's facility using accessible sewing operations.
• Flyer's Gloves Summer Flyer's gloves produced at 15,000 pairs per year, the original product that launched stlb's sewing line.
• Impact / Hard Knuckle Gloves Safety gloves including hard knuckle gloves with hard knuckle components sewn freehand, subcontracted for military and government customers.
• Military ACH Chinstraps Military helmet ACH chinstraps manufactured through the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) partnership using automated machines with engineered metal plates for webbing cutting and sewing.
• Neck Gaiters Neck gaiters produced at over 120,000 units since May 2020 with chain stitch, double stitch, bar tacking, hemming, and serger applications.
• Sand Bags High-quality sand bags with UV 1600-hour direct sunlight protection, retaining 70% strength after exposure. Annual production averages 65,000 bags shipped to 16 customers at 47 locations nationwide.
• Cleaning Chemicals Packaging Cleaning chemicals filled and packaged using specialized equipment, including Qwatro Eco-Friendly Chemicals and various degreasers, bioextract, and industrial laundry products.
• Candles Candles in jar, votive, pillar, and tea light configurations produced for government customers.
• Sirchie Forensic Kits Forensic kits including Blood DNA Kit, Blood Toxicology Kit, and DNA Buccal Swab Kit assembled for the Texas State WorkQuest program in an FDA-certified clean room.
• Base Supply Centers Retail operations at seven military installations (NAS Corpus Christi, NAS Kingsville, Columbus AFB, NAS Meridian, Travis AFB, Sierra Army Depot, US Coast Guard Honolulu) offering office supplies, tools, technology, furniture, and hazardous materials with desktop delivery on base.
• Blind and Low Vision Store Retail store offering accessibility products for blind and low vision individuals including talking, Braille, and large print watches, talking clocks, key chains, replacement canes, magnifiers, 20/20 pens, and talking calculators.
• Berry Compliant Sewn Products Berry Compliant sewn products for commercial customers including knife sheaths (nearly 60,000 units over 8 months) and multi-compartment circular zipper pouches, with all materials produced from materials grown and manufactured in the United States.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% unemployment rate among blind working-age adults addressed through meaningful employment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Momar, Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMomar is a specialty manufacturer of general maintenance and sanitation chemicals founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1947. stlb packages Momar's Weapon CLP (Firearm Cleaner, Lubricant, and Protectant) wipes in pouches and canisters. Product is available on GSA Schedule #GS-07F-0019W and BuyBoard contract 657-21.
• AverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Avery's patent index maker line that allows fully customizable tabs straight from printers. stlb produces these products for federal and state governments.
• FastenalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpring kits for hardware stores kitted by stlb through Fastenal.
• SirchieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBlood DNA Kit, Blood Toxicology Kit, and DNA Buccal Swab Kit kitting operations in FDA-certified clean room.
• United States Postal Service (USPS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorstlb has been converting plastic trays for USPS since 1993. Long partnership that has grown to over 10 machines and 3 million trays per year capacity.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIB is a nonprofit that fosters economic independence for blind Americans. stlb operates as a member organization under AbilityOne program, procuring exclusive products through NIB. Manufacturing ACH chinstraps for military subcontracted through NIB.
• AbilityOne ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal procurement program providing employment opportunities for people who are blind or have severe disabilities. stlb exclusively procures products through this program to support their mission and company growth.
• GSA (General Services Administration)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment-wide procurement platform. stlb's 1StoreSolutions.com available on GSA for federal purchasing compliance.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Challenge Unlimited: Missouri-based non-profit providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities including blind individuals, with manufacturing, packaging, and AbilityOne contract work. Comparable mission and government contract profile.
• Industries for the Blind (IBI): North Carolina-based AbilityOne non-profit manufacturer producing office products, janitorial supplies, and military items with a workforce of blind employees. Highly comparable product portfolio and federal customer base.
• LC Industries: North Carolina-based 501(c)(3) non-profit employing people who are blind in manufacturing and military supply operations, including textile and kit assembly. Comparable federal customer mix and mission-aligned workforce.
• Alphapointe: Kansas City-based 501(c)(3) non-profit employing people who are blind or visually impaired in manufacturing, Base Supply Center operations, and AbilityOne contract work. Closely comparable operating model, customer mix, and product categories to stlb.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): National umbrella organization and AbilityOne program prime contractor for non-profit agencies serving blind Americans. stlb participates in AbilityOne through NIB, making NIB both an operational counterparty and the most direct structural peer — same mission, same federal procurement channel, same manufacturing focus.
• Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired: Ohio-based 501(c)(3) serving the blind community through employment, training, and manufacturing operations. Comparable mission and non-profit manufacturing business model.
• Bosma Enterprises: Indianapolis-based non-profit providing employment and services for people who are blind or visually impaired, with significant manufacturing and government contract operations. Similar mission, AbilityOne participation, and contract manufacturing model.
• The Lighthouse for the Blind (Seattle): Washington state-based 501(c)(3) employing people who are blind in military textile manufacturing, AbilityOne contracts, and Base Supply Center operations. Closely comparable product mix (military sewing, government kits) and customer base.
• Lighthouse for the Blind Houston: Houston-based non-profit providing employment to blind individuals in manufacturing and government contract work. Direct geographic and mission peer with overlapping federal procurement exposure in Texas.

Regional players

• Travis Association for the Blind: Austin, Texas-based non-profit serving blind and visually impaired individuals with employment and training programs. Shares stlb's Texas footprint and mission but operates at smaller scale with different product mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/STLBtx
• Xx.com/SouthTXBlind

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind