Pine Ridge Industries has been helping local businesses employ a more diverse workforce.

As the business side of Schenectady ARC, the 15,000-square foot production center partners with companies to give people with disabilities meaningful work.

One of those people is Michael Bolevice, who has been working at Pine Ridge for about 25 years.

"I like working here. It’s better than staying home and doing nothing,” says Bolevice.

Bolevice is on the autism spectrum. Since working at Pine Ridge, he has held positions at a number of companies, including VistaLab Technologies and Darn Good Yarn.

Joel Denza, a vocational educator, helps Bolevice and others at Pine Ridge compete with employees across the region.

“People with disabilities can work, if not as hard, even harder than people without disabilities. For some of them, they feel they have a lot to prove because of their disabilities,” says Denza.

Pine Ridge has full- and part-time jobs and is accepting applications through its website.