OAI

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.

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

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

• Workforce development services
• Skills training programs
• Job placement services
• Safety certification training
• Community development initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

Core 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

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way of Metro ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for the Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (PRNN) as part of United Way's Transforming Places Initiative.
• Cook CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Transforming Places Initiative for neighborhood revitalization, with Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and Justice Advisory Council support.
• South Suburban CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for Southworks Robotics program engaging engineering and robotics students in STEM activities.
• Governors State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner involved in Southworks Robotics program and broader workforce development initiatives.
• City Colleges of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner including Olive-Harvey College and Richard J. Daley college for workforce training programs.
• Moraine Valley Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner in Illinois for workforce development programs.
• Prairie State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in Chicago Heights, IL for workforce training initiatives.
• YouthBuild USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner organization providing job training and educational services for at-risk youth across multiple states.
• Cara ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-based nonprofit partner providing workforce development services including Cleanslate program.
• Chicago Women in TradescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago nonprofit partner supporting women in skilled trades workforce development.
• Greencorps ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago environmental workforce development partner providing green jobs training.
• Northern Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing research-based approach and operational model support since early years.
• DePaul UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing research-based approach and operational model refinement.
• CitySquare (Dallas, TX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDallas-based partner for environmental remediation and construction training programs.
• Boat People SOScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Atlanta providing hazard awareness training for nail salon workers.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partner supporting conservation and environmental training initiatives.
• Chicago Jobs CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago workforce development business association partner.
• Chicago Southland Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber partner supporting business engagement and workforce development.
• Village of Park ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner hosting OAI Chicago Southland office and community initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/oai_inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/oaiinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/545924

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 OAI