VPO Opens in Central Indiana
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe U.S. Postal Service opened a new Village Post Office today in a small Boone County community. The Thorntown VPO joins dozens of others that have been established in the state since the program started in 2011. April 15, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Thorntown in Boone County has a distinctive history. Founded in 1830, and situated halfway between Lafayette and Indianapolis about 10 miles from Lebanon, the town is the birthplace of several notable citizens. These include Congressman William Leroy La Follette who was a member of the World's Fair Commission and had charge of the Washington State building at the Chicago Exposition in 1893. As a member of the House Committee on Public Lands he fought for the passage of bills that brought water to San Francisco, and the creation of the National Park Service.
Thorntown is now best known as the location for the Festival of the Falling Leaves during the last full week of September when visitors from all over come together to enjoy a car show, a pie baking contest, a parade and a street fair among the attractions.
On Wednesday, April 16, 2014, another happening occurs in Thorntown when the 59th Village Post Office (VPO) opens at Railers IGA Market, 122 E. Main Street, Thorntown, IN 46071. The grand opening is at 11 a.m. and an open house follows from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Dave Railers, owner of Railers IGA Market, says he's pleased to partner with the Postal Service in this new venture. “I think it will be good for the town, and also good for business,” he said. Railers opened the full-line grocery store in 2001. He also owns two other stores in Sheridan and Lebanon. “We already sell stamps, so we hope having the store open after the Post Office has closed for the day will be a great convenience for our customers. They can drop off their mail here, and also pick up flat-rate packaging.”
Railers IGA Market is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The new postal center will be opened by Manager of Post Office Operations Jeff Leffler. 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.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
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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Source: The U.S. Postal Service