OAI
OAI, Inc. is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1976, providing workforce development, skills training, and job placement services to underserved populations across 25+ U.S. states through a network of 50+ partner organizations and multiple training hubs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What OAI does
OAI, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 231 S. Lasalle, Chicago, Illinois (EIN 36-4385280), founded in 1976 originally to integrate Indochinese refugees into the Chicago workforce and subsequently expanded into broader community workforce development. The organization delivers a portfolio of training and employment services through three physical sites — a Downtown Admin Office, the Dawson Tech OAI Training Hub at 3901 S. State Street, and the Chicago Southland office at 208 Forest Boulevard, Park Forest — supplemented by a partner network spanning 50+ organizations across 25+ states. Core service lines include Training and Education Programs (job readiness, safety training, OSHA and hazardous materials certifications, specialized skill development), Employment Services (workforce development, job matching, career advancement), and three ancillary initiatives: High Bridge (a 2015 social enterprise linking green jobs with environmental infrastructure), Southworks Robotics (a STEM/robotics program for high school students in partnership with South Suburban College, 3Seeds, Governors State University, and CSEDC), and the Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (a United Way Transforming Places Initiative addressing food scarcity, digital literacy, employment, and wellness).
Revenue is generated through federal grants (US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Labor, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), state and county funding (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development), foundation grants (United Way, Lloyd A. Fry, Polk Bros, Chicago Community Trust, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Telligen Community Initiative, IFF, LISC), corporate and utility partnerships (Nicor, ComEd, Amazon, Bank of America, Old National Bank, Turner Construction, Dot Foods), tax-deductible individual donations, and training and placement fees. GTM motion is hybrid: community-led through partner referrals and neighborhood coalitions, complemented by direct employer outreach via an in-house Employer Relations function led by a Director-level executive and a Senior Career Coach staff.
Target customer segments span four primary groups: under- or unemployed individuals (including those with incarceration or homelessness histories); workers lacking credentials for safe employment (notably immigrants and underserved populations); employers in manufacturing and high-risk industries facing skilled-labor shortages; and communities impacted by economic decline seeking neighborhood revitalization. Named employer partners include Republic Services, Ardagh Group, Esmark Steel, Arkema, the City of Chicago Department of Transportation, Forest Preserves of Cook County, the Chicago Transit Authority, Moraine Valley Community College, and Governors State University. OAI has trained over 10,000 individuals cumulatively, holds no patents, and reports no revenue figure publicly.
OAI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OAI
- Legal name
- OAI, Inc.
- Website
- https://oaiinc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- OAI, Inc. is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1976, providing workforce development, skills training, and job placement services to underserved populations across 25+ U.S. states through a network of 50+ partner organizations and multiple training hubs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OAI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)
Keywords
Where OAI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
OAI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Grants and Contracts: OAI receives funding from federal and state government entities including US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Labor, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and Cook County Bureau of Economic Development for workforce development and safety training programs.
- Foundation and Nonprofit Funding: OAI receives support from foundations including Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Telligen Community Initiative, Glen W Bailey Foundation, IFF, and others focused on workforce development and community programs.
- Corporate and Utility Partnerships: Funding from utilities and corporations including Nicor Illinois Community Investment, Amazon, ComEd, Turner Construction, Bank of America, Old National Bank, and Dot Foods for workforce training initiatives.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting OAI's mission to provide skills training and employment opportunities. OAI, Inc. (EIN 36-4385280) is a 501(c)(3) organization.
- Training and Placement Services: Fees for job readiness training, safety training certifications, specialized skill development programs, and employment services connecting employers with qualified candidates.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
OAI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OAI, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization that delivers skills training, job readiness education, safety certifications (OSHA, hazardous materials, environmental remediation), and employment placement services to under- and unemployed individuals, including immigrants and workers in high-risk industries. The organization also runs community-based programs including the Southworks Robotics STEM initiative, the High Bridge green infrastructure social enterprise, and the Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (PRNN) revitalization coalition.
Product overview
OAI, Inc. is a workforce development nonprofit offering a unified portfolio of training and employment services. The core offerings consist of Training and Education Programs (job readiness, safety training, specialized skills), Employment Services (workforce development, job matching, career support), and Community Development initiatives. Ancillary programs include Southworks Robotics (STEM/robotics for high school students), High Bridge (green infrastructure social enterprise for water conservation), and the Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (PRNN) community revitalization initiative. The organization operates across 25+ states with 50+ partner organizations, focusing on underserved populations, immigrants, and workers in high-risk industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- High Bridge: Community initiative focused on sustainable water conservation and environmental protection training. Established in 2015 as OAI's first social enterprise venture, linking green jobs training with environmental stewardship and economic development in Chicago Southland. The company installs and maintains high-quality green infrastructure and low-impact landscaping while providing graduates and local residents with employment.
- Southworks Robotics
- Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (PRNN)
Products and services
- Training and Education Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10,000 individuals trained through workforce development programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use OAI
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
OAI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
OAI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- United Way of Metro ChicagocoreStrategic partner for the Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (PRNN) as part of United Way's Transforming Places Initiative.
- Cook CountycorePartner in Transforming Places Initiative for neighborhood revitalization, with Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and Justice Advisory Council support.
- South Suburban CollegecoreEducational partner for Southworks Robotics program engaging engineering and robotics students in STEM activities.
- Governors State UniversitycoreEducational institution partner involved in Southworks Robotics program and broader workforce development initiatives.
- City Colleges of ChicagocoreEducational partner including Olive-Harvey College and Richard J. Daley college for workforce training programs.
- Moraine Valley Community CollegecoreEducational institution partner in Illinois for workforce development programs.
- Prairie State CollegecoreEducational partner in Chicago Heights, IL for workforce training initiatives.
- YouthBuild USAcoreNational partner organization providing job training and educational services for at-risk youth across multiple states.
- Cara ProgramcoreChicago-based nonprofit partner providing workforce development services including Cleanslate program.
- Chicago Women in TradescoreChicago nonprofit partner supporting women in skilled trades workforce development.
- Greencorps ChicagocoreChicago environmental workforce development partner providing green jobs training.
- Northern Illinois UniversitycoreUniversity partner providing research-based approach and operational model support since early years.
- DePaul UniversitycoreUniversity partner providing research-based approach and operational model refinement.
- CitySquare (Dallas, TX)coreDallas-based partner for environmental remediation and construction training programs.
- Boat People SOScorePartner organization in Atlanta providing hazard awareness training for nail salon workers.
- The Nature ConservancyminorEnvironmental organization partner supporting conservation and environmental training initiatives.
- Chicago Jobs CouncilcoreChicago workforce development business association partner.
- Chicago Southland Chamber of CommercecoreRegional chamber partner supporting business engagement and workforce development.
- Village of Park ForestcoreLocal government partner hosting OAI Chicago Southland office and community initiatives.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
OAI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cara Program: Chicago-based nonprofit providing workforce development, transitional employment, and reentry services to individuals facing barriers to employment. Direct competitor in the same city serving overlapping populations (reentry, homelessness, immigrant) with similar employer-matching services.
- Chicago Women in Trades: Chicago nonprofit focused on recruiting, training, and placing women in skilled trades and nontraditional occupations. Direct peer given OAI's stated partnership with CWIT and overlapping mission to channel underrepresented populations into skilled industrial employment.
- Boat People SOS: National nonprofit serving Vietnamese and other Asian-American immigrant communities with workforce development, health, and legal services. OAI partners with BPSOS on hazard-awareness training for nail salon workers; both serve the refugee/immigrant population with safety/skills training.
- Greencorps Chicago: City of Chicago program offering green-jobs training in landscaping, ecological restoration, and urban agriculture. Listed by OAI as a partner and operates in the same green-jobs niche that OAI's High Bridge social enterprise addresses.
- CitySquare (Dallas, TX): Dallas-based nonprofit combining workforce development, housing, and community services for underserved populations. Direct peer given OAI's partnership on environmental remediation and construction training and shared holistic community-development approach.
- YouthBuild USA: National youth workforce development nonprofit operating in 300+ communities offering job training and education for opportunity youth. Direct peer - OAI is a YouthBuild USA local partner and operates substantially overlapping program models, populations, and outcome metrics.
Emerging players
- Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology workforce development to adults from underserved communities. Comparable as a fellow nonprofit workforce intermediary serving employer demand, but OAI is on the industrial/environmental side rather than IT.
Broad incumbents
- Year Up: Large national workforce development nonprofit serving 18-24 year-olds from low-income communities via workforce training and corporate placement. Comparable model and target population but at significantly greater scale than OAI, focused on IT/corporate rather than industrial trades.
- Goodwill Industries International: Largest US nonprofit workforce development provider, offering job training and placement across occupational categories including manufacturing and environmental services. Adjacent/overlapping service lines, much broader footprint and brand reach than OAI.
- JVS (Jewish Vocational Service): Established nonprofit workforce development organization operating in multiple US metros including Chicago, providing skills training and career services for immigrants and other job seekers. Comparable in mission and populations served, with comparable scale and overlap on placement services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
OAI social profiles
Digital presenceOAI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OAI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
OAI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OAI 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 OAI
What does OAI do?
OAI, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization that delivers skills training, job readiness education, safety certifications (OSHA, hazardous materials, environmental remediation), and employment placement services to under- and unemployed individuals, including immigrants and workers in high-risk industries. The organization also runs community-based programs including the Southworks Robotics STEM initiative, the High Bridge green infrastructure social enterprise, and the Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (PRNN) revitalization coalition.
Is OAI a public or private company?
OAI is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was OAI founded?
OAI was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is OAI based?
OAI is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does OAI make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Government Grants and Contracts are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Nonprofit Funding, corporate and Utility Partnerships, donations and training and Placement Services.
Who are OAI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cara Program, Chicago Women in Trades, Boat People SOS, Greencorps Chicago, CitySquare (Dallas, TX) and YouthBuild USA. Per Scholas is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Year Up, Goodwill Industries International and JVS (Jewish Vocational Service).
Does OAI have an API?
No public API is recorded for OAI.
What industry is OAI in?
OAI's product category is Workforce Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAB, Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement). Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 8300.