Factory Prints, a small printshop located in the Together Community Center, 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, has its roots in the need for sustainability of The Factory Ministries, which provides a youth center and social services, including a food pantry, to the under-resourced in the Paradise community.

According to executive director Adam Nagle, the organization has looked hard at assets, including the building, which is the former Paradise Elementary School, to find ways to add revenue and provide workforce development. When the ministry scrutinized expenses, it was discovered that printing for mailings and invitations was a significant expense. "We began asking what it would cost to get our own machine and would it save us money," said Nagle. "We learned that we could, and that it would save us money."

By early 2020, the organization had married the two findings to open Factory Prints, an entity located in the community center that offers print services and personalized service for small print jobs. Among the offerings are business cards, postcards, rack cards, booklets, and invitations.

Unfortunately, the shop opened in February 2020, not long before COVID-19 restrictions closed the state in March. "It's kind of hard to launch a print shop during a pandemic," said Megan Rogers, who took over running the shop from Kylie Stoltzfus, who was serving as director of communications at the time. In June of 2020, Factory Prints relaunched, and by July, Rogers, who is a student at Lancaster Bible College (LBC), was transitioning into the position Stoltzfus had been filling. Rogers works as many as 30 hours a week, spending time at the shop in between classes and playing soccer for LBC. She is pleased with the work she has learned to produce, pointing out pieces she has printed for The Treasure Place in Intercourse and Servant Stage.

Nagle noted that one goal of the program is to eventually train and credential employees. "The machine we needed for the caliber of printing we were after was a Xerox digital professional machine," said Nagle, who noted that Xerox runs a workforce development credentialing program for the equipment. "We are looking ahead to the next phase (of workforce development)," Nagle said.

Rogers noted that the shop's services are not the only reason customers come to Factory Prints. Quoting one of her LBC professors, she stated, "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. The reason we print is because of where the money will go."

Nagle agreed. "By purchasing a print job, (our customers) are serving those who are under-resourced in the community," he said.

Readers who would like to know more about Factory Prints may search for "Factory Prints" on Facebook or email megan@thefactoryministries.com.