History

JCI was founded in 1975 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community rehabilitation facility with a clear mission: to support people with disabilities in finding meaningful employment. 

It all started with the vision of Mr. Nolan Hinson, who wanted to bring together services in one place to help people succeed.

With a $12,000 grant, three staff members, and a 2,000-square-foot building on Truck Lane in Smithfield, JCI began its journey. Just one year later, we outgrew the space and relocated to the Short Journey School on Cleveland School Road in Johnston County.

Soon after, we purchased the former Coca-Cola plant on Brightleaf Boulevard in Smithfield and expanded it by 1,800 square feet to meet the growing demand for services. In 1980, we earned the highest level of accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), recognizing our commitment to quality and continuous improvement.

In 1987, we added a 3,500-square-foot woodshop to our site to support training and production needs.

Expanding Our Mission

By 2000, we began reaching more people with a wider range of needs. We launched the Yes I Can Program for youth ages 16 to 21 who faced barriers to employment. That same year, we began offering workforce development instruction to high school students with disabilities in Johnston County.

Our programs and manufacturing efforts continued to grow, and in 2003 we built a 10,000-square-foot facility in Smithfield to keep up with demand.

In 2004, we opened a 30,000-square-foot program and production facility in Lillington to serve Harnett and Sampson counties, and we became ISO-registered to reflect our commitment to quality and standards.

In 2007, we began operating Unity House, a psychosocial rehabilitation program in Selma. The following year, we purchased a 90,000-square-foot facility in Selma to support continued expansion.

New Programs, Stronger Partnerships

In 2011, we achieved AS9100C Registration and opened the JCI Thrift Store and Donation Center on Brightleaf Boulevard in Smithfield.

That same year, we launched our Café/Culinary Program through a unique partnership with Johnston Health, Johnston Community College, and the Capital Area Workforce Development Board. Grant funding supported the first two years of operation, making this the first program of its kind for Johnston County residents.

In 2015, we expanded both our Behavioral Health and Youth Services units. We began offering Individual Placement and Support (IPS), an evidence-based model of supported employment for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. That same year, we launched the Adolescent Parenting Transitions (APT) program to support pregnant and parenting students in Johnston County.

In 2016, we began offering Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to students across our service areas, helping young people with disabilities explore careers and gain job skills while still in school.

Our Commitment Continues

Since our founding, JCI has remained committed to helping people build stronger futures through work, support, and community connection. We work every day to exceed the expectations of the people we serve, our partners, and our team.

We’re proud of our history—but even more excited about what’s ahead.