Chatham Trades

Located in our new 30,000 square foot facility, Chatham Trades is home to Chatham County’s only community rehabilitation program, providing employment and training for adults with disabilities.  The Chatham Trades facility is also home to Chatham’s first and only human services hub, housing Salvation Army, West Chatham Food Pantry and Chatham Transit’s fleet.

Since 1980, Chatham Trades has been providing vocational and developmental services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Individuals develop social and work skills, and if they choose, continue their academic training. Program participants (Consumers) accomplish all of these things while performing meaningful work and earning wages for the work that they perform and pay taxes. In turn, they spend their hard earned wages locally, contributing to Chatham’s economy.

In addition to providing a much needed service for an underemployed population,  Chatham Trades’ services provide additional manpower for the business community. Consumers working at Chatham Trades’ facility provide industry support with assembly and packaging services, mailings, order fulfillment, and other long and short-term manpower needs.

Chatham Trades’ facility-based services only tell part the story. As consumers increase their work skills, Chatham Trades also helps individuals find jobs throughout the county and beyond. Studies have shown that individuals with disabilities make more loyal and safer employees, thereby reducing employee turnover and Workers Compensation costs. To accomplish this key service, Chatham Trades secures funding from Chatham County government and United Way to provide job coaches to train participants in their new job and to assist the employer with a smoother hiring process. As consumers become increasingly successful in their new job, Chatham Trades is able to bring more individuals into its facility in Siler City to repeat the process.

Chatham Trades’ success is dependent upon support from the community. Individuals or businesses may help with donations, work contracts, employment opportunities and referrals.