Lake Area Industries, Inc. is just one of 92 sheltered workshops in Missouri, employing over 7,500 people with disabilities. Traditionally, LAI relied on contract packaging and assembly work from partnering businesses around the state to provide meaningful employment to people with disabilities in Camden County. Today, LAI services businesses across the community with a variety of services. As well as the operation of the popular retail nursery and garden center, Gifted Gardens.

It is of upmost importance that our employees have a safe environment to work, while giving them opportunities to enhance their knowledge and explore their boundless talents.  We emphasize on vocational skills and cooperation. It is our mission to rectify meaningful tasks in order to help our employees reach their greatest potential. We want them to see their own success inside and outside of the workplace. 

LAI takes on different projects, all which provide employees the opportunity to learn and strengthen their skills while providing valuable resources to our community. The various services offered at LAI include contract packaging and assembly, secure document destruction, and dock foam recycling. LAI also operates the retail nursery and garden center, Gifted Gardens, during the Spring and Fall seasons; bringing new job experiences and challenges that employees will carry with them in life and possibly future job opportunities.