RETTEW
RETTEW is a 100% employee-owned civil and environmental engineering consulting firm serving utilities, transportation, oil and gas, development, water, government, and industrial clients across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia via ten regional offices, with specialized practice lines in data center site development and grant funding assistance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersLancaster, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RETTEW does
RETTEW Associates, Inc. is a privately held, 100% employee-owned civil and environmental engineering consulting firm founded in 1969 and headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The firm operates ten regional offices across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia and serves public and private sector clients in eight verticals: utilities, oil and gas, transportation, commercial development/real estate, water, government, renewable energy, and industrial site development (including data centers). Service lines span civil engineering, environmental consulting, geophysics, geotechnical, GIS, surveying, safety training, and project funding assistance; specialized offerings include ASCE 38-22-compliant Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), MS4 stormwater management, and grant application support through which the firm has secured close to $288 million for clients.
The firm operates a seller-doer go-to-market model where technical staff develop client relationships and deliver projects directly, supported by relationships with commercial real estate brokers and local regulatory bodies across the Mid-Atlantic region. Revenue is generated primarily through fee-based professional services billed on a project basis, supplemented by per-person pricing for OSHA-compliant safety training courses at the RETTEW Training Center in Mechanicsburg, PA. Distribution is relationship-driven rather than RFP-driven, and the firm's ESOP structure (completed 2019) aligns incentives between technical staff and firm performance.
Since 2018 the firm has expanded its geophysics practice via the acquisition of Enviroscan Inc. and has built dedicated service lines for data center civil engineering and renewable energy to capture AI-infrastructure and energy-transition capex. RETTEW is consistently ranked among Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms. Notable named engagements include Longwood Gardens, Advanced Health Care of Allentown, Manheim Borough (Chiques Creek floodplain restoration), and Catawba County Landfill renewable natural gas pipeline. Multiple senior leadership promotions and hires in 2025-2026 (including a new COO and Transportation Market Lead) suggest active organizational scaling, though revenue is not publicly disclosed.
RETTEW firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RETTEW
- Legal name
- RETTEW Associates, Inc.
- Website
- https://rettew.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- RETTEW is a 100% employee-owned civil and environmental engineering consulting firm serving utilities, transportation, oil and gas, development, water, government, and industrial clients across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia via ten regional offices, with specialized practice lines in data center site development and grant funding assistance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RETTEW industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civil Engineering Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (541330), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Feasibility Studies & Remedial Design/Engineering (FS/RD, Treatability Testing) (EUAIALAB), Site Assessment & Remedial Investigation (Phase II/III, Sampling & Characterization) (EUAIALAA)
Keywords
Where RETTEW is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lancaster
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
RETTEW business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Engineering Consulting Services: Professional engineering consulting services billed to clients for civil engineering, environmental, geotechnical, surveying, and other technical services on a project basis. Revenue is generated through fees for professional services across public and private sector projects.
- Project Funding Assistance: RETTEW's Project Funding Team assists clients in exploring funding sources and navigating the grant application process. The team has secured close to $288 million in funding for clients, demonstrating expertise in crafting effective grant applications.
- Safety Training Services: RETTEW offers safety training courses including First Aid/CPR/AED, HAZWOPER, Confined Space Entry, and Defensive Driving. Courses are offered at RETTEW Training Center in Mechanicsburg, PA and other regional locations with per-person pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | First Aid, CPR, BBP, and AED Training |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HAZWOPER 24-Hour Technician Course |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HAZWOPER Site Worker 40-Hour Refresher |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Permit-Required Confined Space Training |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | National Safety Council Defensive Driving |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
RETTEW product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RETTEW is a multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm providing civil engineering, environmental, geotechnical, geophysics, GIS/surveying, transportation, water/wastewater, stormwater management, and safety training services to public and private sector clients. The firm delivers end-to-end project support from site selection and entitlement through design and construction across markets including development, government, utilities, oil and gas, transportation, renewable energy, and industrial (including data centers).
Product overview
RETTEW is a multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm offering integrated professional engineering services rather than a traditional software product company. The firm operates as a unified portfolio of specialized service lines organized by discipline (geophysics, geotechnical, environmental, surveying, stormwater, utility design) and market sector (development, government, industrial including data centers, oil and gas, renewable energy, transportation, utilities, water). Key specialized offerings include Data Center Civil Engineering for AI infrastructure, Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) with ASCE 38-22 compliant Quality Levels A-D, and comprehensive Stormwater Management Services including MS4 compliance and green infrastructure. The firm provides Safety Training Services with OSHA-compliant certification courses, and Project Funding Assistance having secured nearly $288 million in grants for clients. Services are delivered through regional teams across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. The company is 100% employee-owned and consistently ranked among Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Civil Engineering Consulting Services Comprehensive civil engineering consulting covering land development, site planning, infrastructure design, and project delivery for public and private sector clients across utilities, oil and gas, transportation, commercial development, water, government, and industrial markets.
- Data Center Civil Engineering Specialized civil engineering services for data center site development including site selection, stormwater management, utility access, and regulatory compliance for AI-driven and hyperscale facility construction.
- Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Utility mapping and risk management services following ASCE 38-22 standards, providing Quality Levels A through D using electromagnetic locating, ground penetrating radar, vacuum excavation, and precise utility mapping to prevent costly utility conflicts during construction projects.
- Stormwater Management Services Comprehensive stormwater and flood management solutions including green infrastructure, detention basin retrofits, MS4 compliance, floodplain restoration, and pollutant reduction planning for municipal and commercial clients.
- Environmental Consulting Services Environmental consulting including site assessments, stream/wetland mitigation, soil analysis, and regulatory compliance for development projects across multiple markets.
- Geophysics Services Geophysical investigation services including ground penetrating radar and electromagnetic locating for subsurface utility designation and environmental site characterization.
- Geotechnical Services Geotechnical engineering services for site characterization, foundation design, and construction readiness assessment across infrastructure and development projects.
- GIS and Surveying Services Geographic information systems (GIS) analysis and surveying services for mapping, site analysis, and infrastructure planning.
- Safety Training Services Workplace safety training programs including OSHA-compliant First Aid/CPR/AED ($200/person), HAZWOPER 24-Hour ($850/person), HAZWOPER 40-Hour Refresher ($975/person), HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher ($285/person), Permit-Required Confined Space ($285/person), and National Safety Council Defensive Driving ($100/person) certification courses.
- Project Funding Assistance Grant application support and funding assistance services helping clients identify and secure federal, state, and private funding for engineering and infrastructure projects.
- Bridges and Structures Engineering Structural engineering services for bridge design, inspection, replacement, and infrastructure projects for public and private clients.
- Utility Design Services Design services for electric, gas, water, and telecommunications utility infrastructure supporting utility and development clients.
- Transportation Engineering Highway, roadway, bridge, and traffic engineering services for state DOTs, transportation authorities, and private developers.
- Water and Wastewater Services Water source development, treatment, and wastewater management engineering services for municipalities, water authorities, and private water companies.
- Renewable Energy Engineering Services Engineering support for renewable energy projects including solar, wind, and waste-to-energy facilities, from site civil engineering through environmental permitting.
Quantifiable outcome
- Subsurface Utility Engineering ROI: $4.62 to $22.21 saved for every $1 invested in SUE services
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RETTEW
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
RETTEW technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
RETTEW partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP)corePA DEP administers the RISE PA industrial decarbonization grant program funded through EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants under the Inflation Reduction Act. RETTEW's Project Funding Team helps clients navigate and apply for these funding opportunities.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)coreNFWF offers Conservation Partners Program grants for regenerative agriculture and conservation practices on private lands. RETTEW monitors and promotes these funding opportunities to clients.
- Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)coreDCED administers Multimodal Transportation Fund grants for transportation asset development. RETTEW assists clients with applications for projects with total costs of $100,000 or more.
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)coreDCNR's Wildlife Resource Conservation Program assists preservation of wild resources. RETTEW helps municipalities and organizations navigate this grant program with average awards of $30,000.
- Lancaster Clean Water PartnerscoreLancaster Clean Water Partners is a catalyst for clean water in Lancaster County by 2040. They partner with Lancaster Conservancy to offer Small Clean Water Fund grants ($1,000-$20,000). RETTEW helps clients apply for these environmental grants.
- Lancaster ConservancycoreLancaster Conservancy administers the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grant Program ($2,500-$25,000) for projects advancing conservation in Lancaster and York Counties. RETTEW assists clients with applications.
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)coreDOT's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program funds planning, infrastructure, and operational efforts to prevent road deaths. RETTEW hosts webinars and assists clients with SS4A Planning and Demonstration Grant applications.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) - Chesapeake WILDcoreNFWF's Chesapeake WILD Grants program funds fish and wildlife habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay watershed with Implementation grants ($75,000-$500,000), Collaborative Conservation ($200,000), and Planning grants ($75,000). RETTEW helps clients navigate these opportunities.
- Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP)minorPennTAP administers the RISE PA Small-Scale Grants track for industrial decarbonization projects. RETTEW promotes these opportunities to clients seeking funding.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RETTEW competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Herbert, Rowland & Grubic (HRG): Pennsylvania-headquartered multidisciplinary engineering firm offering civil, environmental, water, and surveying services. Closest direct peer: similar size, similar service mix, and same PA-centered regional footprint as RETTEW.
- Larson Design Group: Employee-owned (ESOP) engineering, surveying, and environmental services firm based in Pennsylvania with comparable service lines (civil, environmental, transportation, water) and an overlapping multi-state Mid-Atlantic footprint.
- GAI Consultants: Mid-Atlantic engineering and environmental consulting firm with strong presence in transportation, water, and community development — directly overlapping with RETTEW's service portfolio and geography.
- Pennoni: Philadelphia-based multidisciplinary engineering firm with civil, environmental, geotechnical, and surveying practices, and an ENR Top 500 ranking. Comparable in scale and regional orientation, with similar vertical exposure.
- KCI Technologies: Multi-disciplinary engineering firm with strong environmental, transportation, and utilities practices, with a footprint in the Mid-Atlantic and ENR Top 100 status. Direct competitor for similar municipal and development clients.
Broad incumbents
- Stantec: Global engineering consultancy with major environmental, water, infrastructure, and energy practices. Competes with RETTEW on water, environmental, and infrastructure projects, but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
- WSP: Global professional services firm with major transportation, environment, property, and water practices. Competes on transportation, water, and environmental mandates, and increasingly on data center site development.
- Tetra Tech: Leading global environmental and engineering consulting firm with deep water, environmental remediation, and federal client base. Overlaps with RETTEW on environmental, water, and federal/municipal programs.
- Kimley-Horn: Top U.S. planning and design consulting firm with strong land development, transportation, and environmental practices. Competes with RETTEW for commercial development and municipal clients in overlapping geographies.
- TRC Companies: National engineering, environmental, and construction management firm with strong environmental, energy, and infrastructure practices. Comparable in environmental consulting and infrastructure services at a larger scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RETTEW social profiles
Digital presenceRETTEW financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RETTEW leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
RETTEW funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RETTEW 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 RETTEW
What does RETTEW do?
RETTEW is a multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm providing civil engineering, environmental, geotechnical, geophysics, GIS/surveying, transportation, water/wastewater, stormwater management, and safety training services to public and private sector clients. The firm delivers end-to-end project support from site selection and entitlement through design and construction across markets including development, government, utilities, oil and gas, transportation, renewable energy, and industrial (including data centers).
Is RETTEW a public or private company?
RETTEW is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was RETTEW founded?
RETTEW was founded in 1969. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is RETTEW based?
RETTEW is headquartered in Lancaster, United States, in the North America region.
How does RETTEW make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Engineering Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are project Funding Assistance and safety Training Services.
Who are RETTEW's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Herbert, Rowland & Grubic (HRG), Larson Design Group, GAI Consultants, Pennoni and KCI Technologies. Broad incumbents are Stantec, WSP, Tetra Tech, Kimley-Horn and TRC Companies.
Does RETTEW have an API?
No public API is recorded for RETTEW.
What industry is RETTEW in?
RETTEW's product category is Civil Engineering Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAE, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Engineering Consulting, with a secondary code of EUAIALAB, Feasibility Studies & Remedial Design/Engineering (FS/RD, Treatability Testing). Its NAICS code is 541330 and its SIC code is 8711.