Lebanon, Ohio – On Tuesday JBM Packaging broke ground on its second packaging plant, located just a mile from the company’s headquarters. The new facility not only expands the firm’s production capacity for sustainable packaging, it also widens the reach of its Fair Chance hiring program, which helps former inmates re‑enter the workforce.
Fair Chance program at the heart of growth
Ten years ago JBM Packaging launched the Fair Chance initiative to give people who have served time in prison a pathway back to stable employment. Today, roughly forty percent of the company’s workforce comes through that program. The new plant will create dozens of additional positions, many of which are earmarked for Fair Chance participants.
“Our business is better solutions, better lives, better world,” said Marcus Sheanshang, president and CEO of JBM Packaging. “When we give a former inmate a job, we’re not just filling a role – we’re restoring a tax‑paying citizen to his family and to society.”
Environmental focus and local impact
JBM Packaging specializes in moving companies away from single‑use plastic toward recyclable and compostable alternatives. The new Lebanon facility will increase the company’s ability to serve regional manufacturers seeking greener packaging options, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Beyond jobs, the Fair Chance program provides participants with assistance in securing stable housing and reliable transportation, addressing two of the biggest barriers to successful re‑entry.
Success stories from the program
Stephanie Towns, a former addict who spent years in prison, is now a first‑shift lead at JBM. Celebrating six years of sobriety and one year with the company, Towns said the workplace has helped her rebuild self‑worth and set new goals.
“I want to help people become the best version of themselves,” Towns explained. “It’s more than a paycheck – there’s a career here, there’s a family here.” She hopes to move into human‑resources work in the future, a testament to the upward mobility the program can provide.
Community response
Local leaders praised the expansion as a win for both the economy and public safety. By turning former inmates into productive workers, the initiative reduces recidivism and strengthens families, aligning with community values of personal responsibility and family stability.
The plant’s opening ceremony featured remarks from city officials, who highlighted the project’s potential to attract additional green‑manufacturing businesses to the region.
Looking ahead
JBM Packaging plans to continue expanding its Fair Chance model to other locations, hoping to demonstrate that compassionate hiring can coexist with strong business performance and environmental responsibility. The company’s growth in Lebanon signals a broader trend of businesses embracing both sustainability and second‑chance employment as pillars of a thriving community.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
