Center For Community Action

What Center For Community Action does

Center for Community Action (CCA) is a private nonprofit community action agency headquartered in Everett, Pennsylvania, serving ten Pennsylvania counties (Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin, and Somerset). Founded in 1977 as the Bedford County Weatherization Program and reorganized through successive mergers into its current form by 2006, the organization coordinates, partners, and delivers services to low-income individuals and families to promote self-sufficiency and community economic development. Its beneficiary base comprises households at or below 150-200% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, public benefit recipients (TANF, Medicaid), working families requiring subsidized childcare, individuals with disabilities, and senior volunteers.

The agency operates seven major program departments: Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 6, providing Child Care Works subsidized daycare and Keystone STARS quality rating; Human Services, covering rental and utility assistance, homeless prevention, rapid rehousing, fair housing, representative payee, financial literacy, and social determinants of health screening; Housing and Weatherization, including weatherization, LIHEAP Crisis furnace repair, Warm energy programs, housing rehabilitation, and whole home repair; Employment and Training, with GED/HiSET preparation, the Lending Library of Technology, and the EARN employment program; Transportation Programs (MATP and PWD); AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP; and food security programs including Bedford and Huntingdon County food pantries and the Mountain Lion Backpack Program. The agency also maintains an online Social Determinants of Health Hub for service navigation. Technology is limited to this public-facing web resource; no proprietary systems, AI/ML capabilities, or commercial software products have been identified.

The business model is grant-funded and free to beneficiaries. Revenue is derived from federal, state, and local government grants, including the Community Services Block Grant, LIHEAP, Emergency Solutions Grant, Homeless Assistance Program, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services programs, USDA Rural Development 502/504, PHFA HEMAP, OCDEL/ELRC funding, and AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP federal funding. Services are provided at no cost to income-eligible households, with eligibility determined by federal poverty guidelines, area median income percentages, or program-specific criteria. Referrals are generated through County Assistance Offices, community organizations, and self-referrals. The agency is governed by an 18-member Board of Directors (Low-Income Representatives, Elected Officials, Community Representatives) and led by Executive Director Wendy Melius alongside five program directors. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Center For Community Action

Legal name

Center for Community Action

Website

https://centerforcommunityaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Center for Community Action is a Pennsylvania nonprofit community action agency delivering free housing, childcare, employment, transportation, and food security services to low-income individuals and families across ten counties through government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Human Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civic, Citizenship & Community Engagement Education (EDAAAEAI), Civic Engagement, Volunteering & Leadership Education for Seniors (EDAAAMAK)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Human services nonprofit
• Housing weatherization assistance
• Early learning childcare
• Employment training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Everett

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary revenue from federal, state, and local government grants and programs including Community Services Block Grant, LIHEAP, Emergency Solutions Grant, Homeless Assistance Program, and various Pennsylvania Department of Human Services programs. Services are provided free to eligible low-income individuals and families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Center for Community Action is a nonprofit community action agency that delivers coordinated human services to low-income individuals and families across 10 Pennsylvania counties. Its core offerings span early learning and subsidized childcare (ELRC/Child Care Works/Keystone STARS), housing assistance (weatherization, furnace repair, housing rehabilitation, whole home repair), human services (rental, utility, and homeless assistance; financial literacy; representative payee), employment and training (GED/HiSET, technology lending, EARN), transportation (MATP and PWD), food security (food pantries, Mountain Lion Backpack Program), and senior volunteer programs (AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP).

Product overview

Center for Community Action is a non-profit community action agency that provides a comprehensive suite of social services across ten Pennsylvania counties (Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin, and Somerset). The organization operates multiple interconnected departments including the Early Learning Resource Center (offering Child Care Works subsidized child care and Keystone STARS quality rating programs), Human Services (addressing social determinants of health, rental/homeless assistance, fair housing, emergency food/shelter, representative payee services, and financial literacy), Housing and Weatherization (providing weatherization, furnace repair, warm energy programs, housing rehabilitation, and whole home repair), Employment and Training (GED/HiSET programs, technology lending library, and EARN employment services), Transportation Programs (Medical Assistance Transportation and disability transportation), and additional services including AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP, food pantries, and the Mountain Lion Backpack Program. The organization also maintains a Social Determinants of Health Hub as an online resource directory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Single point-of-contact for families seeking early care and education programs, subsidized child care funding, and services supporting child development. Operates as ELRC Region 6 serving Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset counties.
• Child Care Works Subsidized child care program that supports families in finding early care and education programs and paying for child care through eligibility guidelines.
• Keystone STARS Pennsylvania's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) supporting early care and education providers in continuous quality improvement through standards, training, assistance, and resources.
• Human Services Department Offers social determinants of health, rental and utility assistance, security deposit assistance, homelessness assistance and prevention, rapid rehousing, financial literacy workshops, and representative payee services.
• Rent and Homeless Assistance Provides rental assistance, rapid rehousing, security deposit assistance, utility assistance, homelessness prevention, and homelessness assistance to individuals and families facing housing challenges.
• Bedford County Fair Housing Provides fair housing information and resources to Bedford County residents, helping them understand their rights under the Fair Housing Act and Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
• Emergency Food and Shelter Program Provides financial aid for one month of utility services to Huntingdon County residents who are at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.
• Representative Payee Program Assists individuals who are incapable of managing their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits by acting on their behalf in benefit and payment matters.
• Financial Literacy Workshops Small group classes providing education on budgeting, predatory loans, opening checking accounts, balancing accounts, and other financial skills for individuals at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.
• Housing and Weatherization Department Offers services to reduce energy costs and bring homes to health and safety standards, including weatherization, furnace repair/replacement, and housing rehabilitation programs.
• Weatherization Program Provides energy conservation measures including air sealing, weather stripping, and window treatments to reduce heating/cooling and utility costs for households in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, and Indiana counties.
• Furnace Repair and Replacement Provides emergency furnace repair and/or replacement for households referred by the County Assistance Office through the LIHEAP Crisis program.
• Warm Programs Energy-saving assistance programs including West Penn Power Warm/Warm Plus and GPU Warm/Warm Plus programs providing insulation, caulking, and weather-stripping to eligible customers.
• Housing Rehabilitation Owner-occupied home rehabilitation program providing minor and major repairs to bring homes up to HUD Section 8 housing standards for health and safety in Bedford and Somerset County.
• Whole Home Repair Makes repairs for habitability, health and safety for owner-occupied homes including water, sewer, electric, leaking roof, and handicap accessibility in Fulton and Huntingdon County.
• Employment and Training Department Programs designed to assist individuals with increasing self-sufficiency through GED/HiSET preparation and employment services.
• High School Equivalency Diploma/GED Program Provides tutoring and test preparation services for the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) to help adults earn their high school diploma in Bedford, Fulton, and Huntingdon County.
• Lending Library of Technology Provides laptops to individuals who demonstrate critical need for accessing technology for virtual learning, working, and maintaining telehealth appointments in Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin County.
• Employment, Advancement, and Retention Network (EARN) Addresses needs of public benefit recipients with barriers to employment, promoting barrier remediation, job readiness, and life skills through instruction on time management, organizational skills, and resume writing.
• Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) Assists individuals with Medicaid/Medical Assistance with non-emergency transportation to medical providers, including mileage reimbursement and scheduling assistance through the Area Agency on Aging.
• Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Program Allows individuals aged 18-59 with medically verified disabilities to use shared ride services with co-pay similar to senior citizens in Bedford County.
• AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP Retired and Senior Volunteer Program for adults age 55 and over, providing volunteer opportunities and supplemental insurance benefits while serving in Blair, Huntingdon, and Fulton counties.
• Bedford & Huntingdon County Food Pantries Monthly distributions of essential and healthy food items to individuals and families facing food insecurity, with multiple distribution sites across Bedford and Huntingdon County.
• Mountain Lion Backpack Program Serves Altoona Area Elementary students with healthy, individually wrapped, child-friendly food items all 35 weeks of the school year.

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered historical, core and minor.

• Bedford County Human Services DepartmenthistoricalOthers · 1 July 2001Human service programs and employees incorporated under Bedford-Fulton Housing Services in 2001, adding GED instruction, subsidized childcare, medical transportation, homeless assistance, and other programs.
• Keystone Community Action Program (KCAP)historicalOthers · 1 January 1982Five-county consortium (Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin) that merged with Center for Community Services in 2005, expanding service territory.
• Bedford County Weatherization ProgramhistoricalOthers · 1 January 1977Original predecessor organization that began providing energy conservation measures in 1977, eventually evolving into Center for Community Action through mergers.
• Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPennsylvania state agency partnership to operate Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 6, consolidating Child Care Works and Keystone STARS programs into a single point of contact for families and early learning providers.
• South Central Community Action PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for subsidized child care services specifically in Franklin County within ELRC Region 6 service area.
• PA NavigateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization with Center for Community Action listed as a provider on PA Navigate platform for human services navigation.
• Huntingdon Meals on WheelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner providing volunteer opportunities for AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP volunteers.
• Blair Senior Services, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner providing volunteer opportunities for AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP volunteers.
• James E. Van Zandt VA Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans healthcare facility partner where AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP volunteers provide DAV van transportation coordination and driving services.
• USDA Rural DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency for which Center for Community Action became a packager for USDA Rural Development's 502 and 504 housing programs.
• PHFA (Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState housing finance agency for which Center for Community Action administered PHFA's Homeowner Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP).
• South Central Continuum of Care (SCCOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinuum of Care partnership providing rental assistance to families using the Housing First model across Bedford, Blair, Fulton, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin counties.
• County Assistance OfficescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty-level Department of Human Services offices that provide direct referrals for LIHEAP Crisis furnace repair/replacement services.
• Department of Human Services County Assistance OfficescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect referral source for EARN program participants receiving TANF benefits, with assigned participation hours coordinated through the program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National faith-based social services network that operates emergency assistance, housing, food, refugee resettlement, and case management programs in PA dioceses. Comparable mission and beneficiary population to CCA but with broader national footprint and different funding model.
• Salvation Army: National nonprofit operating emergency shelter, food, utility, and rental assistance programs in PA cities and many rural counties overlapping CCA territory. Comparable service mix (rental/utility, food, emergency assistance) at much larger scale.
• National Community Action Partnership: National membership and advocacy organization for the ~1,000 Community Action Agencies across the U.S. CCA participates in this network; it sets national standards, training, and policy direction that directly shape CCA's operating framework.
• United Way of Pennsylvania: Statewide umbrella coordinating local United Way chapters that fund and convene many of the same human services CCA delivers (housing, food, emergency assistance). Operates as a funder/convener rather than direct service provider but competes for the same donor and grant dollars.

Direct peers

• Keystone Opportunity Center: Pennsylvania-based community action / social services nonprofit providing housing, food, and emergency assistance in the greater Philadelphia region. Operates a comparable mix of federally and state-funded antipoverty programs.
• South Central Community Action Partnership: Neighboring Pennsylvania community action agency that is explicitly a CCA partner for subsidized child care in Franklin County and rental assistance across multiple counties. Operates the same CAA model (CSBG, LIHEAP, housing, weatherization, employment) in adjacent central PA counties.
• Community Action Partnership of Cambria County: Sibling Pennsylvania CAA serving Cambria County — overlapping territory with CCA. Offers the same portfolio of CSBG-funded antipoverty programs (housing, weatherization, food, employment) under the same federal CAA framework.
• CAP of Lancaster County: Mid-sized Pennsylvania community action agency operating CSBG, LIHEAP, weatherization, housing counseling, and early learning programs. Comparable organizational structure and funding mix to CCA, though serving a more urban county.

Emerging players

• Energy Coordinating Agency: Philadelphia-based nonprofit specializing in weatherization, energy conservation, and home repair for low-income households — overlapping directly with CCA's Housing and Weatherization department. Operates as a peer in the LIHEAP / DOE weatherization ecosystem.

Others

• Central Susquehanna Community Foundation: Regional PA community foundation that funds and convenes many of the same human services nonprofits CCA operates alongside. Functions as an ecosystem partner/funder rather than direct competitor but shapes the funding landscape CCA navigates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ccaofpa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-community-action

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Center For Community Action