Education and Training Connection
Education and Training Connection is a Michigan nonprofit operating seven sites across the Great Lakes Bay Region, delivering free adult education, GED preparation, ESL, fee-based career training, early childhood care, and standardized assessment services to underserved community members.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersMidland, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Education and Training Connection does
Education and Training Connection (ETC) is a Michigan-based nonprofit organization founded in 1996 and headquartered in Midland, operating across seven sites in the Great Lakes Bay Region (Midland, Saginaw, and Gladwin counties). It delivers a portfolio of community education services including adult high school completion and GED preparation/testing, English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction at multiple levels, fee-based career and computer training (Microsoft Office at $200/class), early childhood care (Young 5's through 5th grade) in partnership with Midland County Schools, standardized assessment services (GED, Kryterion, CLEP), and online courses delivered through an ed2go partnership. ETC also runs institutional GED programs inside State and City/County correctional facilities. The organization employs 51-100 staff and is led by co-founder and CEO Lyn Knapp.
ETC's technology stack is deliberately non-proprietary: it relies on commodity educational tools — Google Classroom for student communication, ed2go for online course delivery, and Kryterion/CLEP for standardized assessments — rather than building a custom platform. There is no disclosed AI, no proprietary software product, and no mobile application. The website is built on Squarespace, reinforcing the organization's positioning as a service-delivery nonprofit rather than a technology company.
ETC's revenue model is a hybrid typical of community adult education nonprofits: the largest stream is government and federal adult education grant funding that subsidizes free core programs (GED prep, ESL, Adult Basic Education); fee-based career and computer training ($200 per one-day class plus textbook) generates incremental commercial revenue; and donations processed via Square provide supplementary support for disadvantaged populations. Go-to-market is community-led — walk-in registrations, phone enrollment (888-3U-LEARN), and referrals from Michigan Works, Delta College, local schools, and community organizations. Customer segments are diverse and individually small: adults without a high school diploma, ESL learners, career changers, working families needing childcare, and justice-involved individuals.
Education and Training Connection firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Education and Training Connection
- Legal name
- Education and Training Connection
- Website
- https://etc-1.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Education and Training Connection is a Michigan nonprofit operating seven sites across the Great Lakes Bay Region, delivering free adult education, GED preparation, ESL, fee-based career training, early childhood care, and standardized assessment services to underserved community members.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Education and Training Connection industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adult Education and Workforce Training
- NAICS
- Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- GED/HiSET Preparation & Instruction (EDAAABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK), ESL Literacy & Foundational English (Pre-beginner/Alphabetics) (EDAAACAB), Intensive Bootcamps & Accelerated ASE Programs (EDAAABAH), Tutoring, Study Skills & Learning Strategies for ASE (EDAAABAL)
Keywords
Where Education and Training Connection is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Midland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Education and Training Connection business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government/Federal Funding: As a non-profit organization, ETC relies heavily on government funding sources including adult education grants and workforce development funding to support free program offerings for the community.
- Fee-based Career Training: Computer training and professional development courses generate revenue through per-class fees. Computer training is priced at $200 per class plus textbook costs. Post-secondary training programs award certificates upon completion.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a non-profit, ETC accepts donations from the community to support training opportunities for disadvantaged populations. Donations are processed through Square payment platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Adult Education for non-high school graduates |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Computer Training - One-Day Classes |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Post-Secondary Career Training |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Education and Training Connection product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Education and Training Connection (ETC) is a community-based nonprofit educational organization that delivers adult education, GED preparation and testing, English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, career and business training (including Microsoft Office courses), early childhood childcare services, and assessment management (GED, Kryterion, CLEP) across the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan. Programs are offered primarily free to eligible adult learners through multiple physical locations and an online partnership with ed2go.
Product overview
Education and Training Connection (ETC) is a community-based educational resource offering a unified portfolio of adult education and training services across the Great Lakes Bay Region. The core offerings include: Adult Education/GED Program (free high school equivalency preparation and testing), English as a Second Language courses, Career & Business Training (including Microsoft Office computer classes), Early Childhood Services (childcare for Young 5's through 5th grade), Assessment Management (GED, Kryterion, and CLEP testing), and Online Education through ed2go partnership. All programs are designed to provide flexible, accessible education opportunities with supportive environments for adult learners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adult Education / GED Program Comprehensive adult education program providing high school completion, GED/high school equivalency preparation and official testing, adult basic education, and math/reading skill improvement for adults lacking a high school diploma. Classes are free to eligible learners.
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Program ESL courses at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels for non-native English speakers seeking to integrate with the community, transition to higher education, or advance in the workplace.
- Career & Business Training Workforce and professional skills training covering Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Windows), computer basics, and customized employer-delivered training. Includes one-day computer classes priced at $200 per class plus textbook in Midland.
- Early Childhood Services Before/after school childcare and summer camp programs for children from Young 5's through 5th grade, delivered in partnership with Midland County Schools and Bullock Creek Public Schools and licensed by the Michigan Department of Human Services.
- Assessment Management Authorized testing and assessment services including GED testing, Kryterion standardized assessments, CLEP college-credit examinations, and customized assessment development and delivery for educational and professional certification purposes.
- Online Education Online courses delivered through the ed2go partnership, providing self-paced and instructor-led learning options that extend ETC's reach beyond its physical classroom locations, with ETC acting as the local enrollment point of contact.
- Post-Secondary Training Post-secondary career training programs licensed through the Michigan Department of Education's Proprietary School Unit, awarding certificates upon successful completion and delivered at Midland and Saginaw locations, at employer worksites, or on customized schedules.
- Institutional Programs GED preparation and vocational training delivered to individuals incarcerated in State and City/County correctional institutions, supporting credential attainment tied to reduced sentencing and lower recidivism.
Quantifiable outcome
- Students earn over $6,000 more annually with a high school diploma or GED certificate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Education and Training Connection
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Education and Training Connection technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Education and Training Connection partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Midland County Schools / Bullock Creek Public SchoolscoreETC partners with Midland County Schools to provide child care program services for Young 5's through 5th-grade students. Programs are licensed by the Michigan Department of Human Services.
- Michigan WorkscorePartnership with Michigan Works to provide workforce development services at dedicated sites in Midland and Saginaw. Michigan Works referrals connect job seekers with ETC's adult education and training programs.
- Delta CollegecorePartnership with Delta College provides educational pathways for ETC students. Classes held at Delta College Saginaw location. Students can transition from GED to college credit programs.
- ed2gosupportingOnline education partner providing digital courses that fit student learning needs. ETC serves as a local point of contact for ed2go course enrollments.
- KryterionsupportingETC is a Kryterion testing site in Midland, offering standardized assessment services for educational and professional certification purposes.
- CLEP (College-Level Examination Program)supportingETC is a CLEP testing site in Midland, enabling students to earn college credit through standardized examinations.
- First United Methodist ChurchsupportingESL classes held at First United Methodist Church in Midland, providing accessible community location for language learners.
- Saginaw DioceseminorCommunity partnership supporting educational initiatives in the Saginaw area.
- ACEA (Area Chamber & Economic Development Alliance)minorCommunity partnership supporting economic development through workforce education in the Midland area.
- Gladwin SchoolsminorPartnership with Gladwin Schools provides adult education services at Gladwin location.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Education and Training Connection competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ProLiteracy: National nonprofit adult literacy and education organization supporting a network of community-based literacy programs that deliver GED/HSE prep, ESL, and basic skills instruction. Comparable to ETC as a community-delivery adult education provider, though operating as an umbrella/membership rather than a direct provider.
- YouthBuild USA: National nonprofit that combines adult education (including HSE/GED preparation), workforce training, and leadership development for opportunity youth, including justice-involved individuals. Comparable to ETC's correctional/institutional program line and its GED-to-career pathway.
- SER National: National nonprofit providing workforce development, adult education, ESL, and career training to disadvantaged populations, primarily funded through federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grants. Highly comparable to ETC in target learner, program mix, and funding dependencies.
- Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit that delivers adult education, GED preparation, ESL, and workforce training programs through a network of local affiliates. Operates the same community-based, grant-and-fee-funded model as ETC at much greater scale, making it the closest direct comparable for mission, program mix, and funding structure.
- Dorcas International Institute of Justice: Refugee and immigrant services nonprofit offering ESL, adult education, workforce training, and credentialing support. Directly comparable to ETC's ESL and adult basic education offerings and similar community-based delivery model.
Regional players
- Literacy New York: New York-based nonprofit network delivering adult literacy, HSE/GED preparation, and ESL through community-based affiliates. Directly comparable in program mix and learner profile to ETC, but operates in a different region (New York State) and does not directly compete for the same students.
- Delta College Adult Education: Community college in mid-Michigan offering adult education, GED preparation, and ESL through its own locations. Comparable in program mix and learner base; ETC actually partners with Delta College, making it both a peer and a channel partner.
Others
- Michigan Works! Association: Statewide workforce development system in Michigan operating American Job Centers that refer job seekers to adult education and training providers including ETC. Functions as both a referral partner and a competing/parallel channel for workforce-funded adult education enrollment.
- Kryterion: Test delivery and proctoring network that ETC uses as a Kryterion testing site. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant in the assessment-based adult education and certification market.
- ed2go: Online education platform delivering self-paced and instructor-led continuing education, workforce training, and adult learning courses through a network of community partner sites including ETC. Serves as both an enabling partner and an adjacent channel that competes for the same online adult learner demand.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Education and Training Connection social profiles
Digital presenceEducation and Training Connection financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Education and Training Connection leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Education and Training Connection funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Education and Training Connection 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 Education and Training Connection
What does Education and Training Connection do?
Education and Training Connection (ETC) is a community-based nonprofit educational organization that delivers adult education, GED preparation and testing, English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, career and business training (including Microsoft Office courses), early childhood childcare services, and assessment management (GED, Kryterion, CLEP) across the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan. Programs are offered primarily free to eligible adult learners through multiple physical locations and an online partnership with ed2go.
Is Education and Training Connection a public or private company?
Education and Training Connection is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Education and Training Connection founded?
Education and Training Connection was founded in 1996. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Education and Training Connection based?
Education and Training Connection is headquartered in Midland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Education and Training Connection make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government/Federal Funding is the primary driver. The others are fee-based Career Training and donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Education and Training Connection's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ProLiteracy, YouthBuild USA, SER National, Goodwill Industries International and Dorcas International Institute of Justice. Regional players are Literacy New York and Delta College Adult Education. Others are Michigan Works! Association, Kryterion and ed2go.
Does Education and Training Connection have an API?
No public API is recorded for Education and Training Connection.
What industry is Education and Training Connection in?
Education and Training Connection's product category is Adult Education and Workforce Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAABAA, GED/HiSET Preparation & Instruction, with a secondary code of EDAAABAK, College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways). Its NAICS code is 611691 and its SIC code is 8200.