Watauga Opportunities

What Watauga Opportunities does

Watauga Opportunities, Inc. (WOI) is a 50-year-old North Carolina nonprofit headquartered in Boone that operates two integrated divisions out of a 642 Greenway Road facility. Its Programs/Services division delivers vocational rehabilitation and community-based disability supports — Vocational Evaluation/Work Adjustment, Supported Employment (SEFA), Pre-Employment Transition Services for 14–21-year-olds, Long Term Community Supports, Medicaid Innovations Waiver services, and 24/7 residential services in two group homes — primarily for adults and transition-age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties. Funding flows from the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Vaya Health LME/MCO, NC DMH/DD/SAS, NC Medicaid, WIOA, county DSS, and more than 25 school-district contracts; the nonprofit is CARF-accredited across Community Employment Services, Community Integration, Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation, Employee Development, and Community Housing.

WOI's Production/Manufacturing division operates 22,000+ square feet of production capacity, including 7,000+ square feet of controlled-environment space running ISO 13485:2016 (Cert. #FM560456) and FDA QSR 21 CFR Part 820 medical-device compliance. It sells three lines — custom thin-gauge thermoforming (HIPS, PET, PETG, RPET, HDPE), disposable medical device manufacturing (drapes, basins, trays, cell scrapers, collection tubes, kit packs), and contract packaging/assembly (blister, skin, clamshell, kitting) — on a quote-based B2B model with JIT delivery and a 96% on-time delivery rating. The flagship commercial relationship is with Sarstedt, Inc., for which WOI assembled over 10 million COVID-19 test-kit vials cumulatively, peaking at roughly 2 million vials per month and supplying CDC, NIH, and LabCorp. Manufacturing surplus historically cross-subsidizes WOI's human-services mission, creating a hybrid social-enterprise operating model.

Name

Watauga Opportunities

Legal name

Watauga Opportunities, Inc.

Website

https://woiworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Watauga Opportunities, Inc. is a Boone, NC nonprofit operating two divisions: an ISO 13485-certified contract manufacturer (thermoforming, medical devices, packaging/assembly) and a vocational-rehabilitation / disability-services provider serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in western North Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Rehabilitation Services and Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Individual and Family Services (6241), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGALAM

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

SECONDARYEDALAFAI

Disability & Chronic Condition Care Coordination

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Health, Counseling & Wellness Services

Keywords

• Custom thermoforming services
• Medical device manufacturing
• Contract packaging assembly
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Disability support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boone

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Medical and industrial contract manufacturing: Custom thermoforming, medical device packaging, and contract packaging/assembly sold on a quote/job basis to commercial customers. Supports one-time and recurring purchase orders; existing customers run on JIT delivery schedules.
2. COVID-19 test kit vial assembly (Sarstedt): High-volume assembly of COVID-19 test vials under a manufacturing/services relationship with Sarstedt, Inc. — multi-million unit volumes driven by public-health demand.
3. Vocational Rehabilitation funded services: Funding from the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for Evaluation/Work Adjustment, Supported Employment, and Community Employment services. Reimbursed/contract-funded on a per-participant basis.
4. SEFA / Long-Term Community Supports: Services funded via NC's Supports for Employment First Act (SEFA) and Long-Term Community Supports arrangements, primarily through Vaya Health LME/MCO and other managed-care entities.
5. Pre-ETS (Pre-Employment Transition Services) — WIOA / school contracts: Pre-ETS revenue funded by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) dollars flowing through VR and through contracts with local school districts (Watauga County Schools and others).
6. Innovations Waiver services: Reimbursement for NC Medicaid Innovations Waiver services (day supports, community living, etc.) for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
7. Residential services: Funding from NC DMH/DD/SAS, Vaya Health, and county DSS for 24/7 group-home residential supports. Largely contract/reimbursement-based recurring funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Watauga Opportunities, Inc. operates two divisions from a single Boone, NC facility: (1) a contract manufacturing division providing custom thin-gauge thermoforming, ISO 13485:2016-registered disposable medical device manufacturing in 7,000+ sq ft of controlled-environment space, and turnkey contract packaging/assembly with JIT delivery; and (2) a human services division providing vocational evaluation, work adjustment, supported employment (SEFA), Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), Long Term Community Supports, Medicaid Innovations Waiver services, and 24/7 residential services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Manufacturing revenue cross-subsidizes the mission-driven disability programs.

Product overview

Watauga Opportunities, Inc. (WOI) is a non-profit manufacturing and community rehabilitation organization operating two parallel divisions out of Boone, North Carolina: a Production/Manufacturing Division with 22,000+ square feet of capacity organized into three product lines — Custom Thin Gauge Thermoforming, Disposable Medical Devices Manufacturing, and Packaging and Assembly — and a Programs/Service Division delivering vocational and community services including Vocational Evaluation, Work Adjustment, Supported Employment (SEFA), Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), Long Term Community Supports, Medicaid Innovations Services, and Residential Services. The two divisions share the same Boone facility and labor force, with the manufacturing division funding and providing work opportunities for participants of the programs/services division, and the medical device manufacturing line operating in 7,000+ square feet of ISO 13485:2016 registered and FDA QSR 21 CFR Part 820 compliant controlled environment space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Thin Gauge Thermoforming Custom thin-gauge thermoforming service for highly detailed finished plastic products, with less tooling investment than injection molding. Produces custom thermoformed medical trays, shipping trays, food trays, art pallets, vial trays, medical basin liners, and other custom plastic products in materials such as HIPS, PET, PETG, RPET, and HDPE. Sold to commercial manufacturing customers.
• Disposable Medical Devices Manufacturing ISO 13485:2016-registered and FDA QSR 21 CFR Part 820-compliant contract manufacturing of disposable health care products — including custom drapes, basins, trays, cell scrapers, collection tubes, and kit packs — in 7,000+ sq ft of controlled-environment space (10,000 to 100,000 ppm particle levels). Includes high-volume COVID-19 test-kit vial assembly. For medical device and life-sciences customers.
• Packaging and Assembly Turnkey contract packaging, subassembly, and fulfillment services including blister packaging, skin packaging, polybag packaging, clamshell packaging, heat sealing, shrink wrapping, chipboard cutting, plastic and rubber cutting, custom packaging, hand assembly, and repackaging. Specializes in single-source assembly and fulfillment for retail-market companies with JIT delivery and a 96% on-time delivery rating.
• Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment A three-week Vocational Evaluation program using testing, real work assignments, interviews, and observations to assess an individual's social maturity, academic ability, physical capacity, manual dexterity, ability to follow direction, independent problem solving, vocational interests, knowledge of employer expectations, and job-seeking skills, with recommendations for training or job placement. Work Adjustment provides follow-on training, classroom instruction, and counseling toward competitive employment. For individuals with disabilities.
• Supported Employment (SEFA) Job coach model supported employment program providing intensive on-site training, fading, and long-term follow-along services for people with disabilities, integrating participants with non-disabled workers at no cost to employers and using the Work Opportunities Tax Credit.
• Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Pre-vocational training program for students aged 14–21 with documented disabilities, covering five instructional areas: Job Exploration Counseling, Self-Advocacy Instruction, Workplace Readiness Training, Post-Secondary Education Counseling, and Work-Based Learning Experiences. Federally funded by WIOA, free to participants and schools.
• Long Term Community Supports Community immersion social capital building service for individuals certified with a developmental disability, offering community-based training in health/wellness/safety, social skills, community mobility/transportation, civic participation, volunteering, leisure/recreation, banking/finance, consumer skills, self-advocacy, vocational training, and community retirement opportunities. Referred exclusively through Vaya Health.
• Innovations Services (Medicaid Innovations Waiver) Medicaid Innovations Waiver services endorsed to serve Innovations consumers, including Individual Day Supports, Group Day Supports, Community Networking, Supported Employment, and Residential Support Services.
• Residential Services Two group homes operated by Watauga Opportunities, each providing a family atmosphere for six adults with developmental disabilities and a live-in manager, with learning in social, daily living, consumer skills, and recreational areas. Funded by NC DMH/DD/SAS, Vaya Health, and county DSS.

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship manufacturing partner, core funding and referral partner, core funding partner, core partner, core implementation partner, affiliate partner, core referral partner and compliance partner.

• Sarstedt, Inc.flagship manufacturing partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSarstedt engaged WOI to assemble COVID-19 test-kit vials in WOI's ISO 13485 / FDA QSR-compliant medical manufacturing space. WOI assembled more than 10 million vials cumulatively and scaled production up to nearly 2 million vials per month at peak demand. The relationship is foundational to WOI's medical-manufacturing growth.
• North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (NC VR)core funding and referral partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNC VR is the primary state agency that funds and refers adults for WOI's Evaluation/Work Adjustment, Supported Employment, and Community Employment services, as well as WIOA-funded Pre-ETS for transition-age youth.
• Vaya Health LME/MCOcore funding and referral partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVaya Health is the managed-care organization (LME/MCO) for western NC and a primary funding source for WOI's Innovations Waiver services, Long-Term Community Supports, and residential services.
• NC Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (NC DMH/DD/SAS)core funding partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState agency that funds residential and Innovations services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by WOI.
• NC Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (NC DEI)core partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState agency referenced in WOI's resource links that supports employment and independence initiatives relevant to WOI's mission.
• Watauga County Schools (and other Pre-ETS school partners)core implementation partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSchool district contracts enable WOI to deliver WIOA-funded Pre-Employment Transition Services inside 25 high schools, including Watauga High School, Mountain Heritage High School, South Caldwell High School, and Mitchell High School.
• The Arc of North Carolinaaffiliate partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level advocacy and service organization affiliated with WOI through shared mission; listed as a resource link and professional association.
• North Carolina Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Facilities (NCAPSE)affiliate partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade association for NC psychosocial rehabilitation and disability-services providers; WOI is a member/participant.
• North Carolina Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (NCARF)affiliate partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade association referenced in WOI's resource links, representing community rehabilitation programs in NC.
• Boone Area Chamber of Commerceaffiliate partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerWOI is an active member and was named the Chamber's Business of the Year; chamber supports WOI's visibility, networking, and economic-development engagement in Watauga County.
• Watauga County Department of Social Services (DSS)core referral partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCounty agency referenced in WOI's resource links that refers and co-funds participants in WOI's residential and community-support programs.
• Kiwanis Club / Aktion Clubaffiliate partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerService-club partners listed in WOI's resource links, supporting volunteer engagement and community-inclusion activities for participants.
• NC Extension & Community Associationaffiliate partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization listed in WOI's resource links, supporting community-engagement programming for participants.
• CARF Internationalcompliance partnerOthersCommission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities — provides WOI's program accreditation under international standards for rehabilitation services.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization) / certifying bodyOthers

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sonoco Plastics: A large global diversified packaging manufacturer with a healthcare/medical packaging segment offering rigid plastic containers, thermoformed components, and contract assembly. Comparable to WOI Manufacturing on packaging and assembly capabilities, but at vastly greater scale and broader customer base.
• UFP Technologies: A publicly traded contract manufacturer specializing in engineered packaging, medical device components, and custom thermoforming for healthcare and industrial OEMs. Comparable to WOI's manufacturing division along technology (thermoforming, medical packaging) and end markets, but at substantially larger scale.
• Easterseals PORT Health: A larger multi-state disability, behavioral health, and workforce services nonprofit operating across North Carolina. Comparable to WOI's human-services portfolio (vocational services, community living, Pre-ETS-style transition programs) at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Placon Corporation: A US thermoforming and plastic packaging contract manufacturer serving medical, food, and consumer goods end markets with ISO-certified cleanroom capacity. Direct peer to WOI Manufacturing in thermoforming capabilities, materials (PET, PETG, HIPS, RPET), and medical packaging scope.
• RHA Health Services: A North Carolina-headquartered provider of behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disability, and substance use services, including supported employment, residential, and Innovations Waiver programs. Direct peer to WOI's human-services division given overlap in service lines, populations served, and funding mix.
• The Arc of North Carolina: A statewide nonprofit that advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through employment, residential, and community-living programs. Direct peer to WOI's Programs/Services Division, operating under similar state/federal funding mechanisms (NC VR, Innovations Waiver) in the same geography.
• Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina: Regional Goodwill operating a hybrid model that pairs mission services (workforce development for people with barriers to employment) with revenue-generating commercial operations (retail, contract services). Comparable to WOI's hybrid nonprofit/manufacturing structure and workforce-development mission.
• Spencer Industries: A contract manufacturer of medical device packaging, thermoformed trays, and assembled sterile barrier systems operating under ISO 13485. Direct peer to WOI's medical manufacturing division given shared focus on disposable medical device packaging and FDA QSR-compliant assembly.

Others

• Vaya Health: The LME/MCO managed-care organization for western North Carolina and a primary funding source for WOI's Innovations Waiver, Long-Term Community Supports, and residential services. Comparable as the contractual counterpart that dictates referral flow and reimbursement for WOI's human-services division.
• NC Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (NCARF): Trade association representing community rehabilitation providers in North Carolina. Comparable as an ecosystem participant — WOI is a member — that connects WOI to peer disability-services providers, funding partners, and policy advocacy across the state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
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Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Watauga Opportunities