137 jobs are still on the line in Winston-Salem. But the nation’s largest employer of the blind is fighting court rulings.

A group of 47 workers at IFB Solutions Inc. have a 15-day extension on their employment. There’s no guarantee, however, that they or 90 of their coworkers facing similar situations, will keep their jobs thereafter.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has informed Winston-Salem’s IFB that it will extend one of three federal contracts it has with the company until Aug. 15. The contract in question had been set to expire at midnight Tuesday.

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VA Grants IFB Solutions 2-Week Contract Extension, Allowing for More Time To Find Jobs For 47 Employees

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — IFB Solutions says its optical contract with the VA will be extended into August.

IFB announced its contract that was originally set to expire Wednesday (July 31) will be extended until Aug. 15. CEO David Horton says although it’s not the outcome the organization hoped for, the extension will give them more time to find possible positions within for 47 employees who were originally slated to be let go.

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IFB Solutions in Winston-Salem gets extension amid fight to keep 137 jobs, including 76 blind workers

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — IFB Solutions will need to cut 137 jobs, but the cuts won’t come for about two weeks thanks to an extended contract.

The Winston-Salem-based company, which touts itself as the largest employer of people who are blind in the country, said 137 jobs are on the chopping block after a policy change at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs meant the V.A. would not renew its contract with IFB.

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Court ruling may help veterans but hurt the blind

WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEXSTAR) – A court ruling requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to prioritize contracts that help veterans over people with disabilities.

That means current contracts benefiting blind workers could be stripped from the nonprofits dedicated to hiring them.

“We’re here to make sure that Congress does the right thing,” said Curtis Chase, Director of Operations, IFB Solutions in Arkansas.

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IFB Solutions Leaders Lobby in Washington After New VA Proposal Could Cut 137 Jobs in Winston Salem

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — Leaders from a Triad nonprofit are back on Capitol Hill Thursday fighting to stop nearly 150 people from losing their jobs.

IFB Solutions in Winston-Salem is pushing back on court-ordered policy changes from the Department of Veteran Affairs. The change prioritizes veteran-owned businesses over nonprofits like IFB Solutions when it comes to who will produce equipment.

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137 People Losing Job at IFB Solutions in Winston-Salem, 76 of Them are Blind

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — IFB Solutions in Winston-Salem is removing 137 optical lab jobs after the Department of Veterans Affairs decided to not extend its long-term contracts with the company.

The company has long publicized being the largest employer of people who are blind in the country. 76 people who are blind and 15 veterans will lose their jobs with the first wave of 47 cuts expected by the end of July.

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