The Economics of Inclusion

For decades, hiring adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) was viewed as an act of charity—a "nice to have" that lived separately from the bottom line. The Economics of Inclusion is here to dismantle that myth.Hosted by the team behind The GEAR Foundation, this series draws on our 15-year track record of operating a profitable, inclusive enterprise in Franklin, Tennessee, to prove that inclusion is a robust business strategy. We move beyond the "feel-good" stories to look at the receipts .In this series, we explore:•The Retention Advantage: How inclusive businesses like Rising Tide Car Wash and Howdy Homemade Ice Cream achieve retention rates of 80% to 99% in industries plagued by turnover• The Profitability Boost: Deep dives into data showing that inclusive companies achieve 28% higher revenue and 30% higher profit margins than their peers.• The Local Multiplier Effect: Why supporting local, inclusive businesses keeps $68 of every $100 in your community, compared to just $43 for chain stores.• The Taxpayer ROI: How shifting adults from government assistance to tax-paying employment generates a public benefit of $1.46 for every dollar invested.Join us as we bridge the gap between "The Cliff" families face after high school and the competitive advantage businesses are searching for.Description: What happens when you combine the untapped potential of the neurodiverse workforce with the power of local entrepreneurship? You get a business model that changes lives and strengthens local economies.Welcome to The Economics of Inclusion. We are the founders of Our Thrift Store, a nonprofit that successfully employed 50 people—half with special needs—profitably for 15 years. Now, through www.thegearfoundation.org, we are helping entrepreneurs across the U.S. replicate this success. This podcast series is your blueprint for the future of work. We aren't just talking about thrift stores; we are analyzing the explode of family-led models across the nation—from Bitty & Beau’s Coffee to Rising Tide Car Wash and high-tech firms like SAP and Microsoft. Each episode explores how inclusive hiring:• Solves the labor shortage by tapping into a dedicated workforce.• Reduces the "Service Cliff" for families aging out of the school system.• Increases productivity through process improvements that benefit all employees. Whether you are a parent anxious about your child's future, or a CEO looking to improve culture and retention, this series proves that the most inclusive table is also the most profitable one.