(St. Peters, Mo., August 18, 2026) — Boone Center, Inc. (BCI) is launching a new vocational training program in partnership with Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company to prepare adults with disabilities for employment as merchandisers.

The six-week program begins on October 6, 2026, and participants will be employees of Heartland Coca-Cola and will be paid from day one of training. Following successful completion of the program, participants will continue working as part-time merchandisers at Walmart in Wentzville, earning a starting wage of $20 per hour.

“This partnership gives people with disabilities the opportunity to learn a job while earning a paycheck from the very beginning,” said Jamiecea Williams, Director of Vocational Training at BCI. “That combination of hands-on training, real work experience and paid employment is exactly what we want vocational training to provide. We’re grateful to Heartland Coca-Cola for creating this opportunity and investing in an inclusive workforce.”

The first two weeks of training will take place at Heartland Coca-Cola’s St. Charles facility at 3800 Mueller Road. The remaining four weeks will be conducted at Walmart, 1971 Wentzville Parkway, where participants will gain hands-on experience in their actual work environment.

Participants will learn the responsibilities of a merchandiser, including stocking beverages, organizing displays, rotating inventory, removing expired products, and maintaining an attractive, customer-friendly sales floor.

After training, employees will work part-time Tuesday through Saturday, with either a 6 to 10 a.m. or noon to 4 p.m. schedule. Candidates must complete Heartland Coca-Cola’s hiring requirements, including a background check, drug screening, and physical.

BCI’s vocational training programs connect adults with disabilities to community employers through hands-on training. By partnering directly with businesses, BCI helps participants develop skills that meet real workforce needs while helping employers build more inclusive workplaces.

For more information about BCI’s employment programs and other services, visit https://boonecenter.com/.

ABOUT BCI:

Boone Center, Inc. (BCI) creates meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Headquartered in St. Peters, Missouri, BCI employs 230 adults through its Organizational Employment program, which operates as BCI Packaging. In addition, the nonprofit supports another 200 individuals each year through its Competitive Employment program, helping them secure and maintain jobs alongside their non-disabled peers—earning equal pay, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. 

BCI also offers both general and employer-specific Vocational Training programs in manufacturing, hospitality, warehousing, custodial services, and health care and social assistance. Programs are delivered throughout St. Charles, Lincoln, and St. Louis counties in Missouri, as well as St. Louis City and Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties in Illinois’ Metro East region; however, not all programs and services are available in every location. In southwest Missouri, BCI operates as Imagine Technical Institute, serving Taney, Greene, Stone, and Christian counties. For more information on these programs, call (636) 875-5267 or visit https://boonecenter.com/.