INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The Village Post Office (VPO) model has been a way for the U.S. Postal Service to enhance or retain a postal presence by partnering with small businesses in the hamlets and tiny towns scattered across rural America.
The latest in Indiana is Saratoga, a town with a population of about 250. On Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, the seventh VPO in the Greater Indiana District, and the 46th in the nation, will be officially opened at Manning Service Inc., 101 E. Washington St., Saratoga, IN.
The story of Saratoga and Manning Service is one that’s very familiar to those living in rural communities across the nation.
Merritt Manning started his business in 1948 as a Sinclair gas and service station in what was then a thriving Saratoga. His son, Jeff, the current owner, decided to partner with USPS as a way to retain the ZIP Code of his hometown, and as a means to bring extra foot traffic to his business. Over the years, he’s seen the population move away and the high school close down. “Up until recently, Saratoga manufactured V-8 at the Campbell Soup factory, but that’s also closed. Over the years, he’s seen the population move away and the town's high school close down. “Saratoga was the only manufacturer of V-8 at the Campbell Soup factory, but that closed in 1975. It was taken over by a farm gate manufacturer until, but it then moved to another city in 2010,” he said.
Manning runs an independent gas station and a convenience store. He also has a website, www.msiwix.com where he sells kerosene heaters and wicks. He used the Postal Service’s Every Door Direct Mail to publicize the opening of the VPO to his community and found it very successful.
“I’m doing everything I can to keep Saratoga on the map,” he said.
The store is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. As a result, customers will be able to buy stamps and get postal packaging outside postal hours.
The new postal center will be officially opened by Greater Indiana District Manager of Post Office Operations Gary Soultz. Several USPS executives and local officials will be present at the event. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. and an open house will follow from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Last year, the Postal Service introduced the VPO model as an alternate retail location for postal products and services, especially in rural communities.
VPOs are operated by local businesses contracting with the Postal Service, and offer a range of popular postal products and services including stamps and flat-rate packaging.
Four additional VPOs are slated to open in the Greater Indiana District in September in Burlington, Delong, Spiceland and Tippecanoe.
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