Mid-Atlantic States Career & Education Center

What Mid-Atlantic States Career & Education Center does

Mid-Atlantic States Career & Education Center (MASCEC) is a New Jersey-based nonprofit 501c3 organization founded in 2009 (with roots in a 1995 School-to-Careers Initiative) that provides workforce development, education, and community support services across 10 New Jersey counties. The organization operates an integrated portfolio of programs under the "We Grow People®" brand, including job readiness training (Workplus, developed in partnership with Cornell University), the Parolee Employment Placement Program (PEPP, for which it is the sole Southern NJ provider), ex-offender reentry programs (SAFARI®, ACRO™), vocational certifications (Lifting Futures forklift training, ServSafe with 98%+ pass rate, OSHA, Quickbooks, Microsoft Office), a High School Equivalency testing center (GRAD program, HiSET), food distribution (4.6 million pounds over two years), senior transportation services (760,125 commuters served), and a hydroponic greenhouse staffed by disabled workers (New Options Farms™). Cumulative outcomes include 4,600+ job placements and a less than 5% recidivism rate among formerly incarcerated program participants.

MASCEC generates revenue through three primary streams: government grants (including a $1,000,000 NJEDA Offshore Wind Workforce Training grant in June 2023 and a $250,000 Community Service Block Grant in 2021), corporate and foundation donations (DuPont, PSE&G, Bottino's ShopRite, WaWa, Salem County Health and Wellness Foundation, United Way), and individual donations (via PayPal, Venmo, check, or cash). The organization employs 43 staff across physical locations in Pennsville (headquarters plus Workplus), Woodbury, and Salem (a 60,000-square-foot Hubbell Avenue Training Center), with all services delivered in-person free of charge to eligible participants. Its go-to-market model is community-led and partnership-driven, relying on referrals from workforce development boards, school districts, correctional facilities, the NJ State Parole Board, and community organizations.

The organization's competitive position rests on regulatory credentials (NJ Private Career School approval, HSE Test Center designation, sole PEPP provider for Southern NJ), deep institutional partnerships (NJ Department of Labor, NJEDA, Cornell University, Rutgers University, Salem County Prosecutors Office, regional employers), and demonstrated outcomes (sub-5% recidivism, 98%+ ServSafe pass rate). The 2023 NJEDA offshore wind grant represents a strategic pivot into green energy workforce development, positioning MASCEC to serve projected demand from New Jersey's planned 20,000 new offshore wind jobs by 2030.

Name

Mid-Atlantic States Career & Education Center

Legal name

Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center

Website

https://wegrowpeople.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mid-Atlantic States Career & Education Center (MASCEC) is a New Jersey-based nonprofit workforce development organization serving disadvantaged, disabled, and formerly incarcerated individuals across 10 counties with job training, vocational certifications, food distribution, and senior services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Individual and Family Services (6241), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Job Readiness Training & Soft Skills Development (EDAKANAD), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Job readiness training
• Vocational certification programs
• Reentry employment services
• Community outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pennsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary funding source from federal and state government grants including NJEDA Offshore Wind Workforce Training grants, Community Service Block Grants, and workforce development funding from NJ Department of Labor
2. Corporate and Foundation Donations: Funding from corporations (DuPont, PSE&G, Bottino's ShopRite, WaWa), foundations (Salem County Health and Wellness Foundation, NJ Pandemic Foundation, South Jersey Community Foundation), and United Way organizations
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals accepted via PayPal, Venmo, check or cash

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MASCEC provides free workforce development, vocational training, and community outreach services across 10 New Jersey counties. Core offerings include job readiness training (Workplus, PEPP, SAFARI, ACRO, Supported Employment), vocational certifications (forklift, ServSafe, Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, IC3, Logistics), high school equivalency preparation (GRAD Program), food distribution, senior nutrition and transportation, opioid recovery employment support, youth career exploration, and a sustainable hydroponic farm employing individuals with disabilities. Services target disadvantaged workers, formerly incarcerated individuals, people with disabilities, youth, and seniors.

Product overview

Mid-Atlantic States Career & Education Center (MASCEC) operates as a non-profit workforce development and community outreach organization offering a portfolio of integrated programs under its 'We Grow People®' brand. The organization provides job readiness and placement services (Workplus, PEPP, SAFARI), vocational certifications (forklift training, ServSafe, Microsoft Office, Quickbooks), educational services (GRAD high school equivalency program, private career school), and community support programs (food distribution, senior services, addiction recovery). Programs serve diverse populations including disadvantaged workers, individuals with disabilities, formerly incarcerated persons, seniors, and youth, with operations spanning 10+ New Jersey counties. The organization also received a major $1M grant in 2023 to launch offshore wind workforce training as part of the state's clean energy initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Workplus: Signature job readiness program created in partnership with Cornell University that provides basic job-seeking skills and interpersonal skills training
• SAFARI
• ACRO
• RESTORE
• GRAD Program
• New Options Farms
• Pathways to Recovery
• Lifting Futures
• We Grow Stars

Products and services

• Workplus Program Job readiness program created in partnership with Cornell University that teaches job-seeking skills, interpersonal communication, decision-making, resume writing, and interview techniques to disadvantaged adults and workforce re-entry participants.
• Supported Employment Program Employment assistance program funded by NJ Division of Vocational and Rehabilitation Services and Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, designed to help individuals with psychiatric diagnoses find and maintain employment.
• ACRO (Academic, Career, Reentry Opportunity)
• SAFARI

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,600+ job placements achieved
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2023NJEDA awarded MASCEC $1,000,000 through the Offshore Wind Workforce and Skills Development Grant Challenge to develop training programs for offshore wind workforce development, with emphasis on serving overburdened communities in New Jersey.
• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for workforce development program design, evaluation, youth apprenticeship development, and climate smart solutions education. Cornell University connection through retired Senior VP Ben Wood. Partnership includes Cornell Institutes for Climate Smart Solutions collaboration.
• Rutgers UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Rutgers Food Innovation Center and development of Teen Leadership Program for New Jersey through Rutgers Institutes for Climate Smart Solutions.
• NJ Department of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner providing workforce development funding, program approval for High School Equivalency Testing Center, and recognition for food innovation partnership with Rutgers.
• PhilabundancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partner providing food for distribution programs. MASCEC distributes food through food pantry and Fresh for All programs in partnership with Philabundance.
• Food Bank of South JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA summer feeding program partner providing meals for We Grow Stars youth program participants.
• VA Medical Center Wilmington DEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Meals of Honor program delivering meals to veterans in 7 counties throughout South Jersey.
• Gateway Regional High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for Gateway2Careers program, entrepreneurship education, and career exploration. Led to school's national recognition as America's Entrepreneurial School.
• Salem County Office on AgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Congregate Nutrition Program, transportation programs, and senior services in Salem County.
• Cumberland/Salem County Workforce Investment BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development board partner for job placement and employment services coordination.
• Bottino's ShopRiteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food retailer donor for Thanksgiving turkey distribution and ongoing food programs.
• Salem County Prosecutors OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCriminal justice system partner for expungement services and re-entry program coordination.
• NJ State Parole BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for Parolee Employment Placement Program (PEPP) serving formerly incarcerated individuals.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development operator offering job training, placement and wraparound services. Like MASCEC, Goodwill serves disadvantaged workers and individuals with barriers to employment, but at national scale across retail and workforce channels.
• Volunteers of America: Large national nonprofit offering workforce development, housing, senior services, and community programs; comparable to MASCEC's diversified service model spanning seniors, youth, food distribution and workforce training.

Direct peers

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit focused exclusively on re-entry employment placement, very comparable to MASCEC's PEPP and SAFARI programs; serves formerly incarcerated individuals through job-readiness training, transitional work, and placement support.
• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds with training, mentorship, and corporate employer placement; comparable to MASCEC's youth-focused We Grow Stars and WorkPlus programs in target population and employer-paid business model.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free IT and vocational training to under-served adults with employer-connected job placement; highly comparable to MASCEC's Lifting Futures, ServSafe and Private Career School vocational certification offerings.
• America Works: Employment placement firm focused on public-benefit recipients, ex-offenders and other hard-to-employ populations; directly comparable to MASCEC's job placement and PEPP referral model with state-government contracts.
• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): Nonprofit workforce development and vocational training provider serving immigrants, refugees and individuals with disabilities with job-readiness and skills training; comparable in mission, training delivery and employer partner model.
• The Fortune Society: Nonprofit providing re-entry services including employment placement, education, housing, and workforce training for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers; closely comparable to MASCEC's PEPP/SAFARI wraparound approach.
• National Able Network: Nonprofit providing workforce development specifically for individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment; directly comparable to MASCEC's Supported Employment Program serving individuals with psychiatric diagnoses.

Regional players

• Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) of Camden County: New Jersey nonprofit providing re-entry services including employment assistance, expungement support and community reintegration; closely comparable to MASCEC's SAFARI and expungement work within overlapping South Jersey territory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MASCEC

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mid-Atlantic States Career & Education Center