CLC
CLC, Inc. is a Fort Worth-based 501(c)3 nonprofit providing 2-12 week vocational training and job placement in skilled trades (HVAC, welding, aerospace, CNC, forklift, building trades) and office skills, primarily serving veterans, opportunity youth, justice-involved individuals, and low-income adults across two DFW campuses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersFort Worth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CLC does
CLC, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit vocational training and job placement organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It provides 2-12 week, instructor-led programs in skilled trades (HVAC, welding, aerospace/MAAT, CNC machining, forklift and logistics, building trades pre-apprenticeship, maintenance and repair technician) and office skills (QuickBooks/bookkeeping) across two physical campuses at 555 N. Grants Lane in Fort Worth and 6220 Anglin Dr. in Forest Hill. The organization targets underserved populations including veterans and military families, opportunity youth aged 16-24, justice-involved youth and adults, low-income households earning under $37K/year, and unemployed or underemployed adults, while maintaining industry-recognized certifications (AWS D1.1, EPA 608 Universal, MSSC CLA, OSHA Forklift, QuickBooks).
The organization delivers training via physical classrooms and labs, with no proprietary software platform; supporting technology is limited to a Salesforce Experience Cloud-hosted student verification portal and the QuestionPro survey platform used for funding-eligibility intake. The business model is grant-funded: tuition is either free through government and foundation programs (U.S. DOL YouthBuild, Texas Workforce Commission Texas Talent Connection and Self-Sufficiency Fund, Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans' Assistance, City of Fort Worth CCPD, United Way, and 10+ regional foundations including JP Morgan Chase, Sid Richardson, Meadows, Amon Carter, and Bank of America) or priced at $1,500-$6,500 for self-pay — substantially below for-profit vocational school pricing of $28,000-$32,000. Job placement is supported through a network of 100+ employer partners and 5 labor unions.
Operating with approximately 20 staff plus 26 AmeriCorps Texas Members, CLC reports 15,000 lifetime graduates over 25 years and 74 active students at time of snapshot. Leadership comprises Pat Lane (President), Angela Traiforos (Executive Director), and Cory Lane (Career School Director), with Gordon England as a board member and founder of the internal Scholarship Fund. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no equity investment structure typical of for-profit entities; revenue is generated through grants, donations, modest tuition fees, and branded merchandise sales channeled into the Scholarship Fund.
CLC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CLC
- Legal name
- CLC, Inc.
- Website
- https://clcinc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CLC, Inc. is a Fort Worth-based 501(c)3 nonprofit providing 2-12 week vocational training and job placement in skilled trades (HVAC, welding, aerospace, CNC, forklift, building trades) and office skills, primarily serving veterans, opportunity youth, justice-involved individuals, and low-income adults across two DFW campuses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CLC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Worth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CLC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Major revenue stream from foundation and corporate donors including JP Morgan Chase, Sid Richardson Foundation, The Morris Foundation, N. Texas Community Foundation, Rainwater Charitable Foundation, United Way, Amon Carter Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, Bank of America, General Motors, and QuestionPro. Funds cover training and employment services for veterans, low-income civilians, COVID-impacted residents, and facility renovations.
- Government Grants (Texas Workforce Commission / DOL): Government grants fund tuition-free training for qualifying students including Texas Talent Connection (TWC, $1.34M to North Texas in 2022), Self-Sufficiency Fund (TWC, served 170+ participants since 2019), YouthBuild ($1,250,000 from U.S. DOL-ETA), Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans' Assistance, City of Fort Worth CCPD (YARP), and United Way of Tarrant County (Rebuild Tarrant County).
- Tuition Fees (for non-qualifying students): One-time tuition fees for students who do not qualify for grants: Welding $3,500, HVAC $6,000, Forklift/Logistics $1,500, Aerospace $3,000, CNC Machining $3,750, Bookkeeping/QuickBooks $2,000, MRT $6,500. Significantly below for-profit vocational school pricing of $28,000-$32,000.
- Scholarship Fund Contributions & Merchandise Sales: Internal Scholarship Fund seeded by board member Gordon England and sustained by community donors, staff, former students, and 100% of merchandise proceeds. Average scholarship award in 2022 was $1,427.72.
- Merchandise Sales: CLC branded merchandise sold online via their storefront; all proceeds go directly to the Scholarship Fund.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Welding Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | HVAC Technician Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Forklift/Logistics Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Aerospace (MAAT) Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | CNC Machining Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | QuickBooks/Bookkeeping Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Maintenance & Repair Technician (MRT) Program |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Tuition-Free Grant Programs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
CLC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CLC, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that delivers short-duration (2–12 week), tuition-free or low-cost vocational training programs in skilled trades including HVAC, Welding, Aerospace (MAAT), CNC Machining, Forklift/Logistics, QuickBooks/Bookkeeping, Maintenance & Repair Technician (MRT), and Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship. Each program bundles industry-recognized certifications and hands-on lab instruction with job placement services via a 100+ employer partner network and 5 labor unions, serving veterans, low-income individuals, opportunity youth, and justice-involved populations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HVAC Technician Training Program
- Welding Training Program
- Aerospace (MAAT) Training Program
- CNC Machining Training Program
- Logistics & Forklift (MSSC CLA + OSHA Forklift) Training Program
- QuickBooks / Bookkeeping (Office Professional) Training Program
- Maintenance & Repair Technician (MRT) Training Program
- Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship (Electrical) Program
Quantifiable outcome
- $18.89/hour average placement wage for HVAC graduates in 2021-2022 (exceeding Texas college graduate average of $16.75/hour)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use CLC
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles9 records
CLC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
CLC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered operational tool provider, major funder / strategic, core operational partner, operational partner, operational partner network and founder of scholarship fund.
- QuestionProoperational tool providerProvides free unlimited surveys and responses through the QuestionPro platform, enabling CLC to run unlimited data collection activities.
- Stanley Black & Deckermajor funder / strategicNamed one of 91 Makers Grant Recipients in 2022 Global Impact Challenge (part of $25M/5-year commitment). Supports CLC's Low-Income Families Employment Initiative (LIFEI) which provides up to 50% of program costs for unemployed/under-employed participants.
- Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD)core operational partnerPartnership through the Second Chance Act Youth Offender Reentry Project (YORP) serving 75 selected youth offenders with pre-release and post-release services.
- Pecan Valley Centersoperational partnerPartners with CLC's AmeriCorps-Texas program; four AmeriCorps Members (veterans) provide mentoring and life skills coaching to veteran peers at Pecan Valley Centers facilities in Parker and Johnson Counties.
- New Mt. Rose Missionary Baptist Churchoperational partnerHosts monthly mentor-meet-mentee events for AmeriCorps Members and youth served through the Youth Offender Reentry Project.
- Local Schools & Colleges / Technical Institutions / Faith-Based Organizations / Neighborhood Associations / Employers (YARP Partners)operational partner networkNetwork of community partners supporting the Youth At-Risk Program (YARP) through education, training, mentorship, and resource connections for justice-involved youth in Fort Worth.
- Gordon England (Board Member)founder of scholarship fundCLC Board Member who initiated the Scholarship Fund in 2021 with his own personal contribution to help students not qualifying for other assistance programs.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CLC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lincoln Tech: For-profit vocational school offering HVAC, welding, CNC machining, and automotive programs nationwide. Direct competition for skilled-trades training with comparable curriculum credentials (EPA 608, AWS), but operates as a tuition-based for-profit charging $28K-$32K—illustrating CLC's price gap.
- Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development operator, running sector-based training, job placement, and reentry programs for low-income, justice-involved, and barriered populations across hundreds of local Goodwill affiliates. Comparable mission, target population, and funding model (mix of government grants, donated goods revenue, and foundation support).
- Tulsa Welding School (TWS): For-profit welding and HVAC vocational school operating in Tulsa and Jacksonville. Direct curriculum overlap with CLC's Welding and HVAC programs (AWS D1.1, EPA 608), but serves as a tuition-funded for-profit comparator that highlights CLC's lower-cost model.
- National Urban League Workforce Development Programs: National civil rights organization operating workforce development, reentry, and youth employment programs across U.S. affiliates with federal, state, and corporate funding. Comparable target population (opportunity youth, justice-involved) and government grant funding model.
Direct peers
- Year Up: 501(c)3 workforce development nonprofit providing tuition-free technical and professional skills training combined with corporate internships and job placement for young adults from low-income communities. Operates multiple U.S. sites, drawing on employer-partner funding and government grants—directly comparable to CLC's tuition-free, employer-anchored placement model.
- Per Scholas: National 501(c)3 providing tuition-free technical workforce training (IT, cybersecurity, software engineering, and select skilled trades) for underserved adults, with strong employer-partner job placement pipelines. Same tuition-free non-profit model with similar employer/corporate funder network.
- SER National (SER Jobs for Progress): National Hispanic-focused workforce development non-profit providing vocational training and job placement, including skilled trades, with WIOA/DOL funding. Comparable mission, federal grant reliance, and skilled-trades training programs.
- JVS (Jewish Vocational Service): Workforce development non-profit offering tuition-funded vocational training, career coaching, and placement services for low-income and barriered populations. Same target population, similar short-format skilled trades/professional training programs, and grant-based operating model.
Others
- Texas Association of Workforce Development (Workforce Board Network): Texas Workforce Commission and its regional workforce board network—not a direct training competitor, but the primary state grant administrator (TTC, SSF, WIOA) that funds CLC and other workforce nonprofits in Texas. Critical ecosystem partner and grant source.
Regional players
- Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County: Local Workforce Development Board administering WIOA-funded training and employment services in CLC's core service area. Acts both as a programmatic partner/funding intermediary and a competing provider of tuition-funded vocational training to the same target population.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CLC social profiles
Digital presenceCLC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CLC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
CLC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CLC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CLC
What does CLC do?
CLC, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that delivers short-duration (2–12 week), tuition-free or low-cost vocational training programs in skilled trades including HVAC, Welding, Aerospace (MAAT), CNC Machining, Forklift/Logistics, QuickBooks/Bookkeeping, Maintenance & Repair Technician (MRT), and Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship. Each program bundles industry-recognized certifications and hands-on lab instruction with job placement services via a 100+ employer partner network and 5 labor unions, serving veterans, low-income individuals, opportunity youth, and justice-involved populations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Is CLC a public or private company?
CLC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CLC founded?
CLC was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CLC based?
CLC is headquartered in Fort Worth, United States, in the North America region.
How does CLC make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Foundation and Corporate Grants are the primary driver. The others are government Grants (Texas Workforce Commission / DOL), tuition Fees (for non-qualifying students), scholarship Fund Contributions & Merchandise Sales and merchandise Sales.
Who are CLC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lincoln Tech, Goodwill Industries International, Tulsa Welding School (TWS) and National Urban League Workforce Development Programs. Direct peers are Year Up, Per Scholas, SER National (SER Jobs for Progress) and JVS (Jewish Vocational Service). Texas Association of Workforce Development (Workforce Board Network) is listed as an others. Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County is listed as a regional player.
Does CLC have an API?
No public API is recorded for CLC.