At SOAR365, we are proud to partner with SourceAmerica and the AbilityOne Program to create meaningful, competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities right here in our community.
For more than 50 years, SourceAmerica and its nationwide network of nonprofit agencies have delivered essential products and services to the federal government under the AbilityOne Program. As part of that network, SOAR365 employs individuals with disabilities under federal contracts at sites such as Defense Supply Center Richmond, where our teams provide Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance, Janitorial services, Visitor Center operations, and other critical support functions.
Through AbilityOne, people who have significant disabilities, including military veterans, earn competitive wages, receive benefits, and gain access to career advancement opportunities. In Fiscal Year 2024, SourceAmericaโs AbilityOne network employed more than 36,000 people with disabilities, with an average wage of $18.96 per hour. In FY25*, that average wage increased to $19.68, with $822 million in wages paid to employees with disabilities. Importantly, AbilityOne federal contractors do not use 14(c) certificates to pay subminimum wages.
Creating Competitive Employment Opportunities
First established in 1938, the AbilityOne Program continues to expand access to quality jobs. Employment across SourceAmericaโs network has grown steadilyโfrom 32,700 employees with disabilities in FY22 to more than 37,600 in FY25*. Over the past five years, more than 15,600 promotions and community placements have occurred within the network, including more than 2,600 in FY25* alone.
At SOAR365, we see this impact firsthand. Our team members working at Defense Supply Center Richmond and other military installations throughout the region play an essential role in maintaining federal facilities and ensuring operations run smoothly. From maintaining landscaped grounds to keeping facilities clean and welcoming visitors, our employees demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and pride in their work every day.
Generating Value
The AbilityOne Program is not only life-changing for employees, but it also delivers measurable value to taxpayers. AbilityOne employees with disabilities generate an estimated $200 million annually in federal tax revenue. Contracting through AbilityOne saves an estimated $191 million per year in federal benefit programs, and the average return on investment is approximately $2.66 for every $1 spent to administer the programโrising as high as $4.40 in some analyses.
These outcomes reflect what we witness locally: when individuals with disabilities have access to competitive employment, they build financial independence, strengthen families, and contribute meaningfully to the broader economy.
Supporting Our Nationโs Defense
AbilityOne employeesโincluding more than 2,700 veterans across the networkโprovide essential services and mission-critical products to support the United States military and federal agencies.
While some nonprofits in the SourceAmerica network focus on manufacturing goods that comply with domestic sourcing laws such as the Buy American Act, SOAR365โs contribution centers on high-quality service delivery.
Through our partnership with SourceAmerica and the AbilityOne Program, SOAR365 is proud to help ensure that America is supported by a talented, dedicated workforce of people with disabilities who are strengthening our community and serving our nation every day.
*FY25 figures reflect reported data from SourceAmericaโs AbilityOne network.
To learn more about SourceAmerica and the AbilityOne Program, visit www.sourceamerica.org.