Skils’kin Inc., the Spokane-based nonprofit that offers services to people with disabilities, has bought a building at 606 W. Sharp for $230,000 and has moved its payee services division there, says Kym Grime, the division’s director.

The one-story building has approximately 3,400 square feet of space, Grime says. The division formerly occupied a 2,400-square-foot leased space at 613 S. Washington.

The payee services division has 10 permanent employees and one temporary employee, Grime says. Overall, Skils’kin employs about 350 people, including those with disabilities that it places in jobs, and serves clients in the Inland Northwest, Montana, and Wyoming. 

The organization completed its purchase of the building on July 11, Grime says. She says Skils’kin decided to purchase the building and move to give the division more space and as an investment. 

“If you do a return-on-investment analysis, it’s not very long before we’ll get the return on the investment we put in here,” Grime says. “So it’s a financial investment, it’s a better location, more space, and just an all-around improvement for us.”

Skils’kin hired Spokane-based Burton Construction Inc. to remodel the interior of the building, Grime says. The space originally had two different office areas, which were combined into one bullpen-style workspace, she says. Other improvements included adding a small conference room, exterior security cameras, and vinyl flooring in the lobby.

The payee services division of Skils’kin opened in 1999, and its main focus is to manage the finances of people who are unable or unwilling to manage their own, Grime says. 

“A lot of our clients are disabled and deemed unable to manage their own finances by doctors, Social Security, the VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), or they can elect to have us manage for them,” she says.

Skils’kin also offers employment support and community living services to people with significant disabilities. In addition, the organization hires those with disabilities through the national AbilityOne program. Jobs in the program include grounds maintenance, custodial, food service, and postal service occupations.