Press Release from Senator Jim Perry’s office:

North Carolina State Senator Jim Perry (R- Lenoir) was honored as Legislator of the year by the Jobs and Opportunities for the Blind (JOB) Alliance.  The honor was presented during ceremonial activities in Kinston, NC as Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc. (LIB) celebrated 50 years of service to the community through providing jobs for blind, visually impaired, deaf, and other disabled individuals.The JOB Alliance is a group of nonprofit work centers who joined together to advocate for more employment and training opportunities for the blind and visually impaired citizens of our state. 

Nonprofit work centers like Kinston’s Lions Industries for the Blind will be able to provide more employment and training for people who are blind so that they are able to be self-sufficient and provide for their families.

Seventy percent (70%) of working-age adults in America who are blind or visually impaired are not employed according to the National Federation of the Blind.  This results in dependence on public assistance and poverty.  Most want to work, but employment opportunities with necessary training and accommodations don’t exist.

Senator Perry is known for his strong financial background and pragmatic business approach to problems. He helped develop a “pro work law” designed to provide opportunities for visually impaired individuals to be self sufficient.  His changes to state law provided a solution that did not spend additional state dollars and provided accountability measures to protect tax payers.

“I am honored by their recognition.  This has been a rewarding, humbling experience for me.  In the middle of the pandemic, many companies couldn’t get people to come to work.  Some of my blind friends were riding a bus for over an hour for the privilege of working during that time.  They didn’t want unemployment - they wanted their job.  I had so many workers tell me they valued that sense of independence and purpose.  This is an example of a great way to help reduce poverty and reduce reliance on government assistance programs.”   - Sen. Jim Perry

Senator Jim Perry serves as Majority Whip of the North Carolina Senate.  Additionally, he is Chairman of Health Care and Chairman of Appropriations on Health and Human Services