Lawrence County Economic Growth Council

What Lawrence County Economic Growth Council does

Lawrence County Economic Growth Council (LCEGC) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit Local Economic Development Organization headquartered at 1116 16th Street, Bedford, Indiana, co-located with the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce. Founded around 2016, the organization delivers workforce training (the ILJAS program, HSE adult education, Skills Enhancement Fund, TECH Fund), adult education coordination, and economic development services including business expansion support, tax abatement administration (up to ~50% property tax savings over 10 years), EDGE tax credits, USDA small business lending, and Foreign-Trade Zone assistance via INzone.

LCEGC operates the Lawrence County Workforce Coalition, which unites 20+ partners spanning K-12 schools (Bedford North Lawrence, Mitchell, Medora, Orleans, Brownstown Central through North Lawrence Career Center), Vincennes University, Purdue MEP, IU Health Bedford, GM Bedford Casting Operations, justice and probation departments, and community foundations. Programs are delivered free to participants and funded through state grants (Indiana DWD Skill Up 3 Grant exceeding $1,000,000), foundation grants (Duke Energy, GM Foundation, IU Health Community Impact, Ascendium Education Group valued at $150,000, ROI, CenterPoint, Smithville), and federal pass-through programs (USDA). Recent CEO Shance Sizemore's resignation creates a leadership transition for the 1-10 person organization.

The business model is grant-funded public-private partnership delivery: LCEGC does not sell a technology product but functions as a convener, fiscal agent, and program administrator. Distribution occurs via direct employer and community engagement, the NLCC training venue, StoneGate Arts & Education Center, and partner platforms (Indiana INTERNnet, Conexus Indiana). Quantified outcomes include 178 ILJAS graduates across 19 cohorts since 2020, 300% YoY HSE attainment growth, and 153+ internships brokered within one year, alongside facilitating GM's $51M+ EV drive unit casting investment and AT&T's $3.6M fiber broadband buildout.

Name

Lawrence County Economic Growth Council

Legal name

Lawrence County Economic Growth Council

Website

https://lawrencecountygrowth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lawrence County Economic Growth Council is a nonprofit local economic development organization based in Bedford, Indiana, that supports local business growth through workforce training, adult education, small business loans, and economic incentive administration for employers and residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Employment Services (5613), Educational Support Services (61171), Administration of Economic Programs (9261)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Workforce training programs
• Small business financing
• Adult education services
• Community development initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Bedford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: LCEGC receives grant funding from Indiana Department of Workforce Development (Skill Up 3 Grant exceeded $1,000,000) and other state agencies to fund workforce training programs.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including Duke Energy Foundation, General Motors Foundation, IU Health Community Impact Investment Fund, and Ascendium Education Group ($150,000 valued support) to support workforce development and community programs.
3. Small Business Loans (USDA): LCEGC administers a small business loan program through the USDA, offering qualifying emerging or expanding small businesses access to capital at attractive rates and terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lawrence County Economic Growth Council is a nonprofit local economic development organization (LEDO) that supports the growth of Lawrence County, Indiana businesses through startup support, workforce solutions, and technical assistance. Its offerings include the Introduction to Local Jobs And Skills (ILJAS) free adult training program, High School Equivalency (HSE) adult education, Workforce Coalition services (internships, career pathways, K-12 career readiness), a USDA-administered small business loan program, foreign-trade zone assistance through INzone, and economic development incentives including tax abatement and EDGE tax credits.

Product overview

The Lawrence County Economic Growth Council operates as a non-profit economic development organization offering a portfolio of workforce and business development services rather than a technology product. The core offerings include the Introduction to Local Jobs And Skills (ILJAS) training program, High School Equivalency (HSE) adult education, Workforce Coalition services, small business loans through USDA, foreign trade zone assistance, and general economic development support. These programs work together to support business growth, workforce development, and quality of life improvements in Lawrence County, Indiana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Workforce Coalition: An arm of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council focused on workforce development, skills training, adult education, and career readiness programs.

Products and services

• Introduction to Local Jobs And Skills (ILJAS) A free three-week training program for adult Lawrence County residents that provides exposure to welding, construction trades, and machining careers, along with employability skills and certifications including CPR/AED, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed.
• High School Equivalency (HSE) Program A free high school equivalency diploma program available online or in-person that helps adults obtain their HSE credential to improve employment prospects.
• Workforce Coalition Services A comprehensive workforce development initiative offering internships, adult education, skills training, and career pathway coordination for Lawrence County residents and employers.
• Small Business Loan Program A small business loan program offered through the USDA that provides financing at attractive rates and terms for qualifying emerging or expanding small businesses in Lawrence County.
• Economic Development Services Comprehensive economic development services including business expansion support, new business recruitment, startup support, and community development initiatives for Lawrence County.
• Foreign Trade Zone Assistance INzone foreign-trade zone program assistance that helps businesses with duty deferral, duty aversion, and international trade compliance through the Greater Indianapolis Foreign Trade Zone.

Quantifiable outcome

• 178 adults graduated from ILJAS job skills training program across 19 cohorts since 2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCEGC partnered with Purdue MEP to deliver Manufacturing Skills for Success program to Lawrence County Jail inmates and general adult population. Purdue MEP created the curriculum and provides industry advisory support.
• Bedford Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBedford Area Chamber of Commerce (400+ members, over 100 years in community) co-locates with LCEGC at 1116 16th Street. Chamber's CEO Shance Sizemore formerly served as LCEGC CEO, and the organizations collaborate on economic development initiatives.
• Vincennes UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVincennes University is the contracted HSE (High School Equivalency) instruction provider for Lawrence County. LCEGC partnered with Vincennes University and WorkOne to increase adult education enrollment and attainment.
• North Lawrence Community Schools / North Lawrence Career CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNLCC is the primary training venue for ILJAS workforce programs. NLCC provides certified instructors for welding, machining, construction, and health sciences. Coalition worked to increase NLCC enrollment and upgrade equipment ($400,000 in donations).
• StoneGate Arts & Education CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStoneGate Arts & Education Center serves as venue for HSE adult education classes and ILJAS graduation ceremonies. Located at 931 15th Street, Room 103, Bedford, IN.
• General Motors Bedford Casting OperationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGM Bedford Casting Operations is the county's largest employer (700+ workers) and a major economic driver. GM announced $51M+ investment for EV drive unit castings. LCEGC works to support and retain GM operations in Lawrence County.
• AT&TsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAT&T is implementing a $3.6M fiber-powered broadband project bringing high-speed internet to more than 2,300 customer locations in Lawrence County. LCEGC facilitated this infrastructure investment to close the digital divide.
• INzone (Greater Indianapolis Foreign Trade Zone, Inc.)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerINzone administers the federal Foreign-Trade Zone program in Central Indiana on behalf of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. INzone helps businesses understand and access FTZ benefits including duty deferral and duty aversion.
• Mitchell Chamber of CommercesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreater Mitchell Chamber of Commerce (founded 1853) promotes development, growth, and retention of Mitchell business community. Located at 533 West Main Street, Mitchell, IN 47446.
• Indiana INTERNnetsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerIndiana INTERNnet, managed by Indiana Chamber of Commerce, is a free internship-matching platform connecting employers with internship candidates. LCEGC uses the platform to place students in local internships.
• Conexus IndianasecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerConexus Indiana, a program for advanced manufacturing and logistics, offers 100% funding for employer-hosted student internships in year one and 50% in year two. LCEGC connects local manufacturers to this funding.
• CivicLab (Community Education Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCEGC was selected by CivicLab as one of five rural partnerships across the U.S. to participate in a two-year Talent Hubs initiative to improve higher education and workforce systems, supported by Ascendium Education Group.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Vincennes University: Indiana's oldest university and primary HSE instruction provider contracted by LCEGC. Comparable as a workforce training and adult education delivery partner with overlapping curriculum in welding, machining, construction trades, and HSE preparation.
• Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP): Purdue-affiliated manufacturing workforce and productivity organization that co-developed the Manufacturing Skills for Success curriculum used in Lawrence County Jail training. Operates a similar manufacturing-focused workforce model statewide.

Direct peers

• Conexus Indiana: Indiana-focused advanced manufacturing and logistics talent development organization offering employer-funded internships and career pathways. Directly comparable to LCEGC's manufacturing workforce programs and a partner via internship funding for local manufacturers.
• Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI): Regional economic and workforce development organization serving the Indiana Uplands (11 counties including Lawrence). ROI provides grants, talent development, and digital inclusion programs that directly overlap LCEGC's mission, and they have already funded LCEGC through a $50,000 Digital Towns grant.
• INzone (Greater Indianapolis Foreign Trade Zone): 501(c)(6) nonprofit administering the federal Foreign-Trade Zone program in Central Indiana. Directly comparable as a peer nonprofit LEDO offering economic development services to Indiana businesses and an active LCEGC partner for FTZ assistance.
• Community Education Coalition (CivicLab): Parent organization of CivicLab Talent Hubs, which selected LCEGC as one of five rural partnerships nationally. Operates very similar adult education, workforce, and community college access programs across Indiana and partners with LCEGC on the HSE initiative.
• Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce: Co-located county chamber with 400+ member organizations; shares leadership lineage with LCEGC (Sizemore served as CEO of both) and collaborates on economic development, business retention, and member services within the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Indiana Chamber of Commerce: Statewide business association operating Indiana INTERNnet (the internship-matching platform used by LCEGC) and producing the Indiana Workforce & Jobs Report. Compares as a broader economic development and policy organization with overlapping employer engagement.
• Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD): State-level agency that administers WorkOne, Skill Up grants, and HSE testing — providing the >$1M Skill Up 3 Grant to LCEGC. DWD sets policy and funding priorities for the entire workforce ecosystem in which LCEGC operates.
• WorkOne: Indiana's statewide network of American Job Centers providing employment services, training referrals, and workforce development. LCEGC complements WorkOne's services locally and is partially funded through WorkOne/DWD partnerships for HSE testing and adult education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lcegcouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/LCEGC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Lawrence County Economic Growth Council