For longtime grocer Angelo Spagnolo, being civic minded came naturally. Thus when he started his "second career" as owner of Jurassic Dog Bonz, he recognized an opportunity to serve a special segment of the community while growing his business. The idea for the company began in June 2000 in the smoke house of the Tri-County Giant Eagle, which Spagnolo owned at the time. An employee suggested Spagnolo smoke dog bones, and he began selling the bones for dogs at his store. By the time his products were in 50 stores, Spagnolo sold his Tri-County Giant Eagle store in November 2001 to sell Jurassic Dog Bonz full-time. That's where a unique marriage between Jurassic Dog Bonz and Life'sWork of Western Pennsylvania began. Life'sWork is a non-profit social service agency which helps find work for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Spagnolo first came in contact with Life'sWork when his Giant Eagle store employed some of the agency's consumers over several years. On his desk at Jurassic Dog Bonz is an employer award given to him by Life'sWork in October 2000. With Life'sWork, Jurassic Dog Bonz built a warehouse at the Monessen facility. His company's offices are located across the hall from Life'sWork. While 10 employees work at the Monessen office, selling and distributing the products which are manufactured elsewhere, the products are packaged, labeled and boxed at Life'sWork. When Jurassic Dog Bonz signed a long-term contract making Life'sWork its "preferred provider of service," the agency applied for grants to purchase equipment such as forklifts to move the product and automatic stretch machines to shrink wrap the products. The products have been produced elsewhere. But that is about to change. This week, the company celebrated the start of production at its Monessen site by unveiling a new smoke house and freezer section. Among those at the unveiling were representatives of the numerous agencies that made the business expansion possible. The Middle Monongahela Industrial Development Association purchased the new smoke house for the company under the Job Creation Assistance Program. The company in turn hires Life'sWork "consumers." Life'sWork purchased the freezers that will be used at the facility. The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation will hold the lien on the equipment for five years. "The goal is to help business expand, which in turn creates the need for additional employees," said Michelle Keddal, MIDA's grant coordinator for the Job Creation Assistance Program. Because the project will benefit people throughout the Valley, two offices of the OVR -- a branch of the state Department of Labor and Industry -- were involved. These included the Johnstown office, which serves Westmoreland County, and the Washington office, which serves Washington, Fayette and Greene county residents. OVR is a state/federal program that assists persons with disabilities to "maintain employment and independence," said John Brown, district administrator for the OVR Johnstown office. Brown said the Independent Capital Access Network funded adaptations to some of the equipment to allow some people with disabilities to work in the facility. McElveen said it is a positive accomplishment to get several public agencies to get behind a project that is creating jobs in the community. He said the Jurassic Bones expansion furthers Life'sWork's mission: to provide opportunities for competitive employment for individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment." McElveen said he was sold on the idea when Spagnolo first approached him about it. "I told Angelo 'We just want to get it done,'" said Everett McElveen, president and chief executive officer for Life's Work. "It's a great idea. We want people to understand that helping other people does not have to be like something they do just in December. It can be a part of how you grow your business." The University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center developed the business plan for the project. Mon Valley Initiative, a coalition of 14 community development corporations that serve the Mon Valley area, provided $100,000 through its Community Lender Program. "It took all of us to make this work," said Judy McNeil, loan fund manager for Mon Valley Initiative. Spagnolo said the baby boom generation and their children have become dog owners, creating a whole new market for his company's unique product. "Someday we'd like to be the Heinz ketchup of dog bones," Spagnolo said. Jurassic Dog Bonz added six employees initially to work in the smokehouse, Spagnolo said. He plans to add a second shift as quickly as national sales permit. He ultimately hopes to operate the Monessen production facility around the clock and add extra sites. "The opportunity for job creation is tremendous," Spagnolo said. "I did not have to be too much of a salesman to sell them (Life's Work) on the opportunity here."

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