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Highland Popcorn licenses mobile popcorn unit in St. Paul

Highland Popcorn licenses mobile popcorn unit in St. Paul

New Capabilities Saint Paul, MN local

The disability-employment nonprofit expands beyond its storefront

Today: Mobile food handler license recorded

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Highland Popcorn, a St. Paul nonprofit that hires people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, obtained a state food-handler license for a mobile unit at 2185 Edgcumbe Rd. The record appeared on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's license list on September 10, 2026.

The mobile unit lets the organization sell popcorn at farmers markets, festivals, and events beyond its storefront in Highland Village. Founder Shamus O'Meara started the venture to give his autistic son, Conor, meaningful work; he hopes the model is one other employers can copy.

Why it matters

The license lets a small nonprofit extend its inclusion-focused employment model beyond a single storefront.

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Key Indicators

1
Mobile food handler license
New license permits mobile popcorn sales in Minnesota.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

February 2026 September 2026

2 events Latest: Today
  1. Mobile food handler license recorded

    Today Licensing

    Highland Popcorn LLC appears on Minnesota Department of Agriculture's license list for a mobile food handler at 2185 Edgcumbe Rd.

  2. Highland Popcorn opens store in Highland Village

    Opening

    The nonprofit popcorn shop opens in St. Paul's Highland Village, hiring people with disabilities.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1902 onward

Goodwill Industries (1902)

Methodist minister Edgar J. Helms started collecting used goods and hiring people with disabilities to repair and resell them. The first Goodwill store opened in Boston.

Then

Created jobs and vocational training for disabled and poor individuals.

Now

Grew into a global network of nonprofits employing millions, demonstrating sustainable social enterprise.

Why this matters now

Highland Popcorn follows the same model: using revenue from retail operations to create meaningful work for people with disabilities.

2004 forward

Specialisterne (2004)

Danish engineer Thorkil Sonne founded Specialisterne, a company that trains and employs autistic people as software testers and consultants. The model spread to multiple countries.

Then

Proved that people with autism can excel in skilled technical roles.

Now

Inspired a global movement of 'neurodiversity' hiring, encouraging companies to adapt roles to individual strengths.

Why this matters now

Highland Popcorn taps the same idea: matching repetitive, detail-oriented tasks to the strengths of employees with autism and other disabilities.

Sources

(3)