INDIANAPOLIS, IN — North Salem, just 25 miles west of Indianapolis, prides itself as a place “where small town charm meets big time fun.” Founded in 1835, and with a population of about 518, the town has been hosting its “Old Fashion Days” Festival over Labor Day weekend for the past 36 years.
On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, the 42nd Village Post Office (VPO) in the Greater Indiana District will officially open at the North Salem Food Plaza, 3 S. Main Street, North Salem, IN 46165. The grand opening is at 12 p.m. and an open house follows from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Jason Lalli, who has owned the North Salem Food Plaza for the past 10 years, said he decided to partner with the Postal Service and open a VPO in his store to help out his community by offering the convenience of being able to buy stamps or pick up postal products throughout the day. “We’re the only gas station and convenience store in town, and our customers often come into the store about three or four or five times a day. I wanted to provide a service for them, so they could pick up a book of stamps while they’re here,” he said.
The North Salem Food Plaza opens Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The new postal center will be opened by Manager of Post Office Operations Kim Hernly. Several USPS and local officials will be present at the event.
In 2011, 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.
Additional information about the Village Post Office is available at www.uspsvillagepostoffice.com.
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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation: 152 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With more than 31,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world's mail. If it were a private-sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 42nd in the 2012 Fortune 500. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for seven years and the fourth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.
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