Hyde Park, NY
Cleaning and Site Maintenance by Gateway Industries

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library and Museum in Hyde Park was the home of the first disabled President. FDR was stricken with polio at the young age of 39, so it seems fitting that Gateway has the federal contract for the FDR site maintenance; to clean the facilities and maintain the grounds at FDR. Gateway trains and employs people with disabilities to work on this contract.The FDR site opened a Visitor's Center in November 2003 which Gateway also maintains and cleans.

The Presidential libraries preserve the papers, records and other historical materials of U.S. Presidents. There are 10 of these across the nation and each one contains a museum. Maintaining these historical facilities is a demanding seven day a week task. The FDR site maintenance involves high quality janitorial services and grounds maintenance. The cleaning crew is responsible for 16 acres of ground maintenance and cleaning over 60,000 sq. feet of building space. The other services provided are landscaping, snow removal and pest control.

This contract is a wonderful experience for all the workers involved. "To have this contract and to have our clients truly accepted in the workplace is extraordinary. They (FDR) want us to be there. We share a similar mission, to help people with disabilities," describes Douglas Maloney, Assistant Executive Director of Gateway Industries. More than 120,000 people visit the FDR Library and Museum each year so the appearance is a priority to the FDR Site directors. The library is a showcase to show visitors the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Finding job opportunities for the disabled is the mission of Gateway.
To learn more about the FDR Library visit their website: www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu

Gateway's work at the FDR site has created a public relations frenzy. Gateway was featured in an article in NISH's "Workplace" magazine in September 2003. This magazine targets federal buyers and government agencies. GCI was also featured locally by the Daily Freeman and the Poughkeepsie Journal in articles that informed local residents of the work at FDR by individuals with disabilities. To learn more about NISH and The Workplace Magazine visit: www.nish.org