Iowa Prison Industries

This week, we were proud to present Delbert Longley with the prestigious IPI Champion Award! 🎖️

As Chief Jail Inspector for the Department of Corrections, he was a tireless promoter and advocate for our training programs and the impact they make. Whether it was a sheriff, jail admin, city manager or a deputy, Delbert went out of his way to share our offerings with everyone.

Throughout the years, he also helped IPI create more work for the incarcerated individuals in our programs, taking a genuine interest in and sharing their success whenever he could.

Delbert will officially be retiring this summer, and everyone that he met and impacted through his work will miss him dearly. He exemplifies to the greatest extent what it means to be a "Champion!" 🙌

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This week during , we honor the brave men and women who protect and serve our communities, as well as those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

IPI is proud to support Iowa's police, not only with our products and services, but also with our mission to reduce recidivism to create safer communities.

We thank you for your selfless service and courage! 🩵

As we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week, we'd like to share a message from IPI Director Bob Fairfax about the vital service IPI staff provides for Iowa's communities:

"I'm honored and proud to be a leader at Iowa Prison Industries, working alongside talented colleagues dedicated to IPI's mission of serving the citizens of Iowa and the individuals entrusted to us.

Our valued staff work tirelessly to ensure each incarcerated individual has opportunities for success as a productive citizen upon release. Please join me in recognizing the hard work and commitment of my fellow public servants across the state at all IPI locations! Caring and Compassionate—simply the best!"

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𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐚! 🚀

The IPI Sign Shop at Anamosa is always innovating and dreaming up new ways to meet customer needs, and with their new Roland C0630i UV printer, the team has been exploring brand-new possibilities for custom interior signage and decals!

The new printer uses UV light to instantly cure layers of specialized ink onto practically any surface, allowing raised, embossed or tactile effects to be printed on just about anything. The shop is looking forward to continuing to dive into the possibilities of this exciting new technology!

Take a look at these incredible interior installments designed and produced by IPI's Anamosa Sign Shop! 👀

We're proud to have been able to work on these custom projects for the Iowa DOT, which provide the incarcerated individuals in our program with valuable graphic design and fabrication work training hours.

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Congratulations to Garrett Landuyt for being named to the NCIA 2026 Honor Roll! 🙌

Each year, the State of Iowa nominates one IPI employee for the National Correctional Industries Association (NCIA) Staff Award who displays above and beyond performance and excellence in their program.

As the supervisor at IPI's Mitchellville shop, Garrett has continuously proven to be an integral part of our organization's private and traditional industries success.

"Garrett has a great attitude and work ethic," says Mitchellville Manager Justin Opfer. "His ability to get the job done and keep everyone on task has enabled IPI to grow traditional business and keep our PIE partners happy."

Congratulations on the honor, Garrett!

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This week is National Apprenticeship Week, where organizations across the country celebrate and build awareness of the power of registered apprenticeship programs! 🔧

IPI currently offers 9 total registered apprenticeships, with at least one available in nearly all of our locations.

A recent study found that those who completed apprenticeship programs showed a 50% reduction in recidivism over a 3-year period versus those who did not, and subsequently earned 68% more than the overall population of men and women released by the DOC.

At IPI, we look forward to continuing to build upon our apprenticeship opportunities with the goal of creating bridges to gainful employment, reducing recidivism, and building a stronger workforce in Iowa.

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Congratulations to Kevin Peterson on his retirement after 27 years with IPI! 🙌

Kevin began his IPI career in 1999, working for the chemical shop in Anamosa selling product to our customers. A few years later, he would officially join the Sales & Marketing Team, where he has worked to build valuable, lasting relationships with our customers across Iowa.

On his last day, Kevin was awarded with the ninth-ever IPI Champion Jacket, which is given to individuals who go above and beyond in their dedication to IPI's mission and goals. He is the very first former-IPI staff to be given this honor.

No matter what was thrown his way, Kevin would always step up to new challenges and changes, showing his leadership in helping IPI move in the best path forward for our operations. His ability to create lasting bonds with his customers and fellow staff is something that can't be taught, and his absence from our organization will be truly missed.

Thank you for making a difference at IPI, Kevin, and enjoy your retirement! 🥳

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IPI is all set up at the 2026 APWA Spring Conference! 👍

If you're in attendance, make sure to stop by during exhibit hours (till 5:30 pm) to talk with our representatives about all of the ways we can serve you!

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We're all set up at the Iowa Parks & Recreation Association Conference in Sioux City 🙌

Stop by IPI's booth (Booth 34) today from 11 am - 2 pm to get a look at our newly expanded park furniture line. We're also bidding out several park furniture prototypes silent-auction style, so don't miss your chance to snag something for a great price!

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