IFB Solutions, formerly Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind
Paper & Forest ProductsArkansas, United States51-200 Employees
IFB Solutions, based in Little Rock, Arkansas, operates in the paper and forest products manufacturing sector. The company traces its origins to 1940, when Rev. Jeff Smith, a blind Methodist minister, established a small workshop to provide employment for blind citizens. Over time the operation expanded into a larger plant and began producing goods for the U.S. government, including detonators in the 1960s and later notebooks and military belts. In 2010, the facility underwent a major expansion that added warehousing and manufacturing space and renovated production areas to accommodate new products. As part of National Industries for the Blind, the organization has historically relied on Department of Defense contracts as a core part of its client base and emphasizes employing people who are blind or visually impaired. Today the organization continues to operate with capacity to add new product lines and services while serving customers from its Little Rock base.