What People Incorporated of Virginia does

People Incorporated of Virginia is a nonprofit community action agency founded in 1964 and headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, that provides wraparound social services to economically disadvantaged individuals and families across Southwest Virginia, the Northern Shenandoah Valley, the Rappahannock/Fauquier region, and parts of Tennessee and West Virginia. The organization operates a portfolio of integrated service lines spanning affordable housing (32 properties with 1,031+ units developed through its People Incorporated Housing Group subsidiary), early childhood education (six Head Start centers and five Early Head Start centers plus CHIP/First Steps home visiting), workforce development (adult, youth, and dislocated worker programs), family services (domestic violence shelter, Virginia CARES ex-offender re-entry, CASA child advocacy), and financial services delivered through People Incorporated Financial Services (PIFS), a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) established in 2001 that originates personal and business loans and matched savings accounts.

The business model is grant-and-mission-driven rather than commercial: primary revenue comes from federal grants (FY2024 federal grants of $7,287,722 from HUD, HHS/ACF, and USDA) supplemented by state grants, affordable rental housing income, loan interest, corporate donations, and New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) investment allocations. The agency is a federally designated Community Action Agency, NMTC Community Development Entity (since 2008), state-certified Community Housing Development Organization, and HUD-certified housing counseling entity, and administers the Ninth District Development Financing (NDDF) tourism loan fund. Service delivery relies on a network of 11+ physical offices, online intake via Empowor and ChildPlus platforms, and partner-led digital tools such as the Northern Initiatives Initiate platform for the co-developed "Get Your Money Right" financial education module. In FY2024 the agency served 7,585 clients including 1,644 children and 836 seniors, with 88% of households at or below 200% of HHS poverty line, while employing 251-500 staff under President and CEO Bryan Phipps.

Name

People Incorporated of Virginia

Legal name

People Incorporated of Virginia

Website

https://peopleinc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

People Incorporated of Virginia is a nonprofit community action agency serving economically disadvantaged individuals and families across Virginia through affordable housing, Head Start education, workforce development, family services, and CDFI-based financial lending.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Action / Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs (FSALAKAL), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Affordable housing development
• Community development lending
• Early childhood education
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Abingdon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: Primary funding source. FY2024 Federal Grants totaled $7,287,722. Sources include HUD, USDA Rural Development, HHS Administration for Children and Families (including Office of Head Start and Office of Community Services/CSBG). Grant Number 2501VACOSR cited for CSBG support.
2. Affordable Rental Housing Income: Income from managing 32 affordable rental housing properties (1,031+ units) across Virginia and Tennessee. Rent is set at 30% of net income for senior/disabled units; family units are below market rate, often offset by Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8).
3. Personal and Business Loan Interest: Interest income from PIFS (Community Development Financial Institution). In 2024, PIFS issued $570K+ in personal loans and $1.3 million in business loans. Loans are low-interest, supporting low/moderate-income individuals and small businesses.
4. State Grants: Grants from state agencies including Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development ($522,500 for Down Payment Assistance Pilot), Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth ($93,969 Youth Tobacco Use Prevention), Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (VSTOP, $14,724), and Virginia Sexual Assault Services Program ($33,000).
5. Corporate Donations and Sponsorships: Tax-deductible contributions from corporations and individuals. 2024 corporate donations totaled $335. Major sponsors for 60th anniversary events included Klein Hornig, Virginia Housing, and First Bank & Trust Company.
6. Ninth District Development Financing (NDDF) Tourism Loan Fund: Tourism-related loan fund for Virginia's 9th Congressional District, originally funded with $1M HUD Community Block Grant and $500K USDA Rural Development. Loan repayments are reloaned; People Inc. Phipps acts as Executive Director and Loan Administrator.
7. New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) Investment Allocation: People Inc. is a certified CDE that attracts private investment for community development in low-income communities. NMTC investments have included Continental Tire ($7M), Grundy Town Center ($9M), SKyPAC ($5.575M), Bristol Hotel ($11.6M), Polycap ($10M), and Emory & Henry ($5.4M).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

People Incorporated of Virginia is a 60-year-old nonprofit community action agency that delivers affordable housing (32 properties with 1,031+ units), early childhood education (Head Start/Early Head Start and CHIP home visiting), family services (domestic violence shelter, CASA advocacy, ex-offender re-entry), workforce development (adult, youth, and dislocated worker programs), and community development finance (CDFI-certified personal loans, small business loans, matched savings, and NMTC investments) to economically disadvantaged individuals, families, and small businesses across Southwest Virginia, Northern Shenandoah, and parts of Tennessee.

Product overview

People Incorporated of Virginia is a community action agency (not a SaaS product company) operating since 1964 as an integrated portfolio of social-service programs delivered as a platform of named services across four major service areas: Community Development, Education, Employment Training, Family Services, Financial Services, and Housing. Rather than a single unified software product, the offering is a service platform composed of interrelated modules — affordable housing (32 properties, 1,067+ units across VA and TN, developed and managed through affiliate People Incorporated Housing Group/PIHG and the new Lightfoot Apartments development), early childhood education (Head Start and Early Head Start with multiple centers, plus the CHIP/First Steps home visiting program), youth education and college access (Project Discovery, Improving Scholars), family services (Domestic Violence Shelter and Sexual Assault Support, Virginia CARES ex-offender re-entry, CASA advocacy, Free Income Tax Preparation / VITA), workforce development (Adult, Youth, Dislocated Worker, and Employment Services), financial services delivered by the CDFI-certified affiliate People Incorporated Financial Services (Personal Loans, Business Loans, RISE Matched Savings, Small Business Training and Technical Assistance, plus the Initiate-powered "Get Your Money Right" financial education module), and housing-counseling and lending services (Homebuyer Education, Homeownership and Housing Counseling, First-Time Homebuyer Loans via Virginia Housing partnership, Foreclosure Prevention, Rental Assistance/Section 8, Permanent Supportive Housing / Foothills Housing Network, Weatherization, Disaster Recovery Housing Counseling). Specialized community-development capabilities include the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) program as a Community Development Entity and the Ninth District Development Financing tourism loan fund. Together, these modules form a coordinated antipoverty platform for economically disadvantaged individuals and families across Southwest Virginia, the Northern Shenandoah Valley, the Rappahannock/Fauquier region, and parts of Tennessee and West Virginia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• People Incorporated Financial Services (PIFS): U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) established in 2001; provides personal loans, business loans, matched savings accounts, and small business training and technical assistance.
• People Incorporated Housing Group (PIHG)

Products and services

• Head Start Federally funded early childhood education program for income-eligible children ages 3 to 4. Operates six Head Start centers in Abingdon, Benhams, Bristol, Glade Spring, Clarke County, and Frederick County plus a home-based option. Includes developmental/sensory/behavioral screenings, parent involvement in governance, and adult literacy/career-skills classes. Free to enrolled families — meals, transportation, supplies, and field trips included.
• Early Head Start Early childhood education program for income-eligible children prenatal through age 2. Six-hour daily care with healthy meals, fully credentialed staff, and a research-based curriculum. Funded by federal HHS to expand with 12 new center-based slots in Buchanan County for children aged six weeks to two years.
• First Steps (CHIP - Comprehensive Health Investment Project) Home visiting program serving Medicaid-eligible families with young children and pregnant women (children up to age 5) in City of Bristol, Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Washington Counties. Offers medical support, developmental screenings, and connection to community resources. FY24 enrolled 120 families, completed 431 physicals, and conducted 2,528 home visits.
• Project Discovery College-access program for high school students in Buchanan, Russell, and Washington Counties. Arranges college campus visits, provides academic support counseling, goal-oriented workshops, SAT fee waivers and test preparation, and information on financial aid and college admissions. Won the statewide Above and Beyond Award from the Project Discovery organization.
• Improving Scholars Twice-weekly tutoring and mentoring program for middle and high school students in Washington County, designed to improve grades and attendance so students can progress into Project Discovery and continue through school.
• Domestic Violence Shelter and Sexual Assault Support Temporary emergency shelter, court services, supportive services, and victim advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Operates 24-hour statewide crisis hotline (877-697-9444) plus Buchanan County (276-935-5485) and Russell County (276-889-0178) hotlines. FY24 impact: 728 emergency calls, 585 families counseled, 537 safety plans, 243 sheltered, 41 housed permanently.
• Virginia CARES (Ex-Offender Services) Virginia Community Action Re-Entry Solution helping individuals released from prison reintegrate with family, community, and the job market. Provides immediate help obtaining food, clothing, housing, transportation and ID; job-search training; one-to-one counseling and peer support groups. Available in Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Culpeper, Fauquier, Prince William, Rappahannock, and Warren Counties.
• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Trained volunteer advocacy program representing abused and neglected children in court. Operates CASA of Culpeper and CASA of the 28th Judicial District serving City of Culpeper, Bristol, Smyth County, and Washington County. Research-validated outcomes include higher adoption rates, fewer foster re-entries, and higher high-school/college completion.
• Free Income Tax Preparation (VITA) IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program providing free income-tax preparation to qualifying individuals (under $89,000 income, persons with disabilities, limited-English speakers, etc.). Services offered in person and online from early February through mid-April each year; helps eligible individuals claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Adult Workforce Development One-stop Career Centers providing adults age 18+ with workforce preparation, talent development services, and job placement, including connections to GED preparation, continuing education, and employment placement. Locations include Crossroads Institute (Galax), Bristol, Chilhowie (Smyth County), and the Wytheville One-Stop Campus.
• Dislocated Worker Employment and Training Re-employment assistance for individuals who lost their job through no fault of their own, including those affected by Hurricane Helene. Provides help applying for employment, interview preparation, financial assistance for training, and access to services across Southwest Virginia and the New River Valley.
• Youth Workforce Development Education, training, and employment opportunities for eligible youth ages 14 through 24 across Carroll County, Grayson County, Galax, City of Bristol, Washington County, Wythe County, and Bland County. Enhances workforce-readiness skills, connects participants with paid internships and training opportunities, and supports career exploration.
• Employment Services Employment-readiness program for income-qualified community members with at least one minor child at home. Provides work readiness skills, job search training, and transportation assistance to help participants move toward the career of their dreams.
• Business Loans (PIFS) People Incorporated Financial Services' small-business lending product offering low-interest loans for startup and expansion, business and marketing plan assistance, technical support, credit counseling, and access to small-business resources. Eligibility tied to sufficient collateral and creation/maintenance of jobs for low- or moderate-income individuals. FY24: $1.3 million in business loans, 89 jobs created/maintained, 21 businesses expanded, 15 started.
• Personal Loans (PIFS) Low-interest personal loans for credit building and bill consolidation — vehicle purchases/repairs, household bills, home improvements, medical bills, college expenses, and refinancing of predatory payday loans or high-interest credit cards. FY24: $570K+ in personal loans disbursed.
• Matched Savings Accounts (RISE) Asset-building program helping community members save for home ownership, post-secondary education, transportation, small-business ownership and more. For every $1 a participant saves, they receive an $8 match up to $4,000, paired with financial literacy and asset-specific training.
• Small Business Training and Technical Assistance Builds relationships with small-business owners and provides training on business management and operations counseling across a wide service area covering Alleghany, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Carroll, Covington, Floyd, Franklin, Galax, Grayson, Manassas, Manassas Park, Montgomery, Norton, Patrick, Prince William, Pulaski, Radford, Roanoke, Salem, Smyth, Winchester and Wythe.
• Get Your Money Right Financial Education Module Financial education and coaching module co-developed with Northern Initiatives on the Initiate platform. Combines guides, worksheets, calculators, and credit tools covering goal setting, budgeting, expense management, credit, and borrowing preparation for small business owners and individuals.
• Ninth District Development Financing (NDDF) Tourism Loans Tourism-related business loan fund for Virginia's Ninth Congressional District administered by People Incorporated of Virginia. Provides working capital and fixed-asset financing for arts, cultural, historical, outdoor adventure, and entertainment tourism projects. Governed by a 27-member volunteer Board of Directors appointed by county Boards of Supervisors/City Councils.
• Affordable Rental Housing Manages 32 affordable housing properties across Virginia and Tennessee with 1,031 units dedicated to low-, very low- and extremely low-income families and individuals. Includes properties such as Abingdon Green/Terrace/Village, Baileyton Terrace, Bristol Properties, Brunswick Manor, Clinch View Manor, Culpeper Crossing, Dante Crossing, Deskins Apartments, Essex Manor, Greeneville Landing, Jamestown Village, Jonesville Manor, Luray Meadows, Millview Apartments, Mountain City Manor, Newport Village, Norton Green, Pennington Gap Apartments, Powell Valley Village, Pulaski Village, Riverside Place, Spruce Hill, Sweetbriar/Sweetbriar II, Tazewell Village, Toms Brook Apartments, Valley Vista, West Lance Apartments, and Whites Mill Point. FY24: 1,067 total units, $130M total development cost, 664 senior units, 430 family units.
• Lightfoot Apartments Affordable Housing Development 60-unit affordable housing complex under development in Culpeper, Virginia, including 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units, six units built for individuals with disabilities, free wifi for all residents, community building with laundry, community room, playground, leasing office, and maintenance office. Estimated completion February 2026.
• Affordable Housing Development (PIHG) Multi-family affordable housing development delivered via People Incorporated Housing Group (PIHG), a state-certified Community Housing Development Organization. Uses below-market-rate loans, tax credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), and other affordable capital to keep rents affordable. Activities include housing rehabilitation, first-time homebuyer programs, adaptive-reuse projects, housing for the homeless and special populations, elderly housing, foreclosure mitigation, and mixed-finance transactions.
• New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) People Incorporated as a qualified Community Development Entity (CDE) attracts private investment to community development projects in low-income communities by offering tax credits to investors in return for qualified equity investments. Funds make loans to high-impact businesses across Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Notable past projects: Continental Tire ($7M), Grundy Town Center ($9M), SKyPAC ($5.575M), Bristol Hotel ($11.6M), Polycap ($10M), Emory & Henry School of Health Sciences ($5.4M). Became an NMTC CDE in 2008 and closed first NMTC investment in 2010.
• Rental Assistance (Housing Choice Voucher / Section 8) Financial rental assistance for low-income families in Washington County through the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8).
• Homeownership and Housing Counseling One-on-one homeownership counseling for eligible individuals and families, plus First-Time Homebuyer Loans (Conventional, FHA, USDA Rural Development Guaranteed, and Veterans Loans) delivered in partnership with Virginia Housing, and home-loan packaging for the USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Loan. Serves Clarke, Dickenson, Frederick, Lee, Page, Scott, Shenandoah, Tazewell, and Warren Counties.
• Disaster Recovery Housing Counseling HUD-certified housing counseling delivered by Jamie Gross to assess disaster-related housing, financial, and other issues; connect clients with local resources; communicate with lenders, insurers, and government agencies; and complete paperwork throughout recovery.
• Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Counseling for homeowners behind on mortgage or in danger of defaulting on a home loan, available in Washington and other counties via People Inc. Housing Counselors.
• Homebuyer Education Virginia Housing Homebuyer Education classes delivered in English and Spanish, free to participants.
• First-Time Homebuyer Loans Low-interest home loans for creditworthy first-time homebuyers or those who have not owned a home in the last three years, including Conventional, FHA, USDA Rural Development Guaranteed, and Veterans Loans offered in partnership with Virginia Housing. Down-payment assistance may also be available.
• Weatherization Home improvements for eligible homeowners in Buchanan County, Washington County, and the City of Bristol — including air sealing, weatherproofing, and insulation — to reduce energy use and lower heating/cooling bills.
• Permanent Supportive Housing (Foothills Housing Network) Helps homeless individuals achieve financial stability, access benefits, find employment, and overcome other barriers to self-sufficiency through permanent supportive housing scattered throughout the Foothills region of Virginia — Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties, plus Russell County.
• Homeless Solutions Emergency assistance and services for individuals or families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, including a Coordinated Intake line (833-429-7754), eviction helpline referral (1-833-NOEvict), and connection to 211 Virginia resources.

Named customers18 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, minor and moderate.

• Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia Housing provides the homebuyer loan products that People Inc. offers to creditworthy first-time homebuyers, including Conventional Loans, FHA Loans, USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Loans, and Veterans Loans. Virginia Housing also offers free Homebuyer Education classes in English and Spanish referenced by People Inc. People Inc. was a major sponsor of People Inc.'s 60th anniversary celebrations.
• Northern InitiativescoreTechnology or IntegrationNorthern Initiatives developed the Initiate platform, which People Incorporated Financial Services subscribes to. Together they co-developed the 'Get Your Money Right' module combining guides, worksheets, calculators, and credit tools. The platform enables ongoing financial coaching outside of one-on-one meetings for small business owners and individuals.
• Ninth District Development Financing, Inc. (NDDF)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNDDF is a tourism loan fund program administered by People Incorporated of Virginia. Originally created in 1995 through a partnership catalyzed by U.S. Congressman Frederick C. (Rick) Boucher. Originally funded by $1M HUD Community Block Grant through VA DHCD and $500K USDA Rural Development. The 27-member Board of Directors approves/rejects low-interest tourism loan applications in the 9th Congressional District. People Inc. President and CEO Bryan Phipps acts as Executive Director and Loan Administrator.
• Klein HornigminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of People Incorporated's 60th anniversary celebrations. Klein Hornig is a law firm specializing in affordable housing and community development.
• First Bank & Trust CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of People Incorporated's 60th anniversary celebrations. Community bank serving Southwest Virginia.
• Sen. Mark Warner (U.S. Senate)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted a roundtable discussion with People Inc. leadership on affordable housing needs in Virginia and strategies to tackle the limited availability of affordable housing, covered by Culpeper Star-Exponent.
• U.S. Congressman Morgan GriffithmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerRepresentative presented President and CEO Bryan Phipps with a special Congressional resolution honoring People Inc.'s 60th anniversary at the 60th anniversary Community Celebration. Also helped secure federal funding for Head Start expansion.
• U.S. Congressman Frederick C. (Rick) BoucherflagshipOthersServed as the catalyst among residents of the Ninth U.S. Congressional District to create Ninth District Development Financing, Inc. in 1995. Rick's passion for the Ninth District and appreciation of the cultural and natural assets of Southwest Virginia drove the development of the tourism loan fund.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI supporting community development and affordable housing through loans, grants, and capacity-building. Comparable as a larger, federally connected CDFI; operates in rural Virginia markets alongside People Inc.
• NeighborWorks America: National network of 240+ affordable housing and community development nonprofits. Comparable in mission and HUD-aligned programs; a broader incumbent with affiliated housing counseling and lending activity across the U.S.
• Virginia Housing: State housing finance agency providing LIHTC, homebuyer loans, and DPA programs statewide. Strategic partner to People Inc. for first-time homebuyer loans and a broader affordable housing incumbent with overlapping mission and funding.
• Community Action Partnership: National membership organization representing over 1,000 community action agencies. Broad incumbent with which People Inc. shares CSBG funding streams and CAA designation; not a service competitor but a peer/industry umbrella.

Others

• Appalachian Regional Commission: Federal-state economic development partnership for the Appalachian region. Not a direct peer but a key federal funder and ecosystem participant that shapes the funding environment for People Inc. and other Southwest Virginia nonprofits.

Emerging players

• Virginia Poverty Law Center: Virginia statewide legal aid and policy nonprofit serving low-income residents on housing, domestic violence, and benefits issues. Partial overlap with People Inc.'s DV/housing advocacy services, but focused on legal representation rather than direct service.

Direct peers

• Virginia Community Capital: Virginia-based community development financial institution providing loans, investments, and financial consulting for affordable housing and community facilities. Closely comparable to PIFS as a Virginia-focused CDFI serving nonprofits and small businesses.
• Appalachian Community Capital: Coalition of CDFIs serving Appalachian small businesses and communities, providing loan capital and capacity-building. Direct peer to People Inc. Financial Services in regional CDFI activity, mission, and target geography (Appalachia/Southwest Virginia).
• New River Valley Community Action: Community action agency serving the New River Valley region of Virginia (Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Radford). Direct peer operating Head Start, housing, and weatherization programs in overlapping Southwest Virginia counties.
• Total Action Against Poverty: Roanoke-based nonprofit community action agency offering Head Start, workforce development, weatherization, and affordable housing programs across Virginia's Blue Ridge region. Most direct CAA peer in Virginia with similar federal funding mix and wraparound service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/peopleincofva
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfttV6_FjIMynpUFR_99njw
• Facebookfacebook.com/PeopleIncofVirginia
• Instagraminstagram.com/peopleincofva

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about People Incorporated of Virginia