Southwestern Community Action Council

What Southwestern Community Action Council does

Southwestern Community Action Council, Inc. (SCAC) is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) community action agency founded in 1967 and headquartered at 540 5th Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia. The organization delivers a continuum of social and economic services to low-income individuals and families across Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, and Wayne counties in West Virginia, with extended reach to 21 additional West Virginia counties and 4 Kentucky counties via the SCSEP workforce program and 16 West Virginia counties via the SSVF veterans program. Service offerings span Head Start and Early Head Start (696 and 110 families respectively), Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) for workers 55+, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) for homelessness prevention, Weatherization Assistance, Emergency Repair & Replace Program (ERRP) for heating emergencies, Utility Assistance, In-Home Services for elderly/disabled residents, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). All programs are delivered at no cost to income-eligible beneficiaries.

SCAC operates without a proprietary technology platform; service delivery relies on direct human interaction via central office, satellite locations (Milton, Point Pleasant), home visits, Head Start centers, and an online application portal (mylitt.com) for utility assistance intake. The organization is governed by a 12-member tri-sector Board of Directors (four public, four private, four low-income representatives, plus one Head Start Policy Council seat), reflecting the federal Community Action Program governance model.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: revenue streams consist of federal grants (HHS Office of Head Start Grant 03CH013140, DOL SCSEP, VA SSVF, DOE Weatherization), state and local grants, and public/private donations. Customer acquisition occurs through DHHR office referrals, community agency partnerships, social media (Facebook), email newsletters, and word-of-mouth, with no paid advertising or sales motion. Key operational partners include the West Virginia DHHR, Veterans Administration, Westbrook Health Services, Marshall University, Workforce WV, and Lincoln Unity Apartments, forming an integrated referral network across healthcare, housing, education, and workforce systems.

Name

Southwestern Community Action Council

Legal name

Southwestern Community Action Council, Inc.

Website

https://scacwv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southwestern Community Action Council is a West Virginia-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) that delivers federally funded anti-poverty programs—including Head Start, SCSEP, SSVF, Weatherization, and emergency assistance—to low-income families across 40+ counties in West Virginia and Kentucky.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Child Care Services (6244), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Social services nonprofit
• Early childhood education
• Energy assistance programs
• Veteran housing support

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: Primary funding from federal government grants including Office of Head Start (Grant Number 03CH013140) and other federal programs supporting community action initiatives. Funds are received from the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2. State and Local Grants: Receives various state and local grants to support community services in Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, and Wayne counties in West Virginia.
3. Public and Private Donations: Accepts public and private donations to supplement grant funding for community programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southwestern Community Action Council delivers a continuum of federally and state-funded social and economic services to low-income families in West Virginia. Its core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) rapid re-housing, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), Weatherization and Utility Assistance, the Emergency Repair & Replace Program (ERRP), In-Home personal care services, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). All services are provided at no cost to income-eligible clients across Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, and Wayne counties.

Product overview

Southwestern Community Action Council is a private non-profit 501c3 agency that provides a continuum of social and economic services to move low-income individuals and families toward self-sufficiency. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including Head Start/Early Head Start for early childhood education and development, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) for mature workers, the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) for housing assistance, Weatherization and Energy Assistance for utility cost reduction, Emergency Repair & Replace Program for heating emergencies, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) for free tax preparation. These programs work together to address the comprehensive needs of low-income families in Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, and Wayne counties in West Virginia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Head Start / Early Head Start

Quantifiable outcome

• Head Start program serves 696 families; Early Head Start funded for 110 families
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• West Virginia DHHR (Department of Health and Human Resources)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborative referral partnership where DHHR offices accept and route applications for the Emergency Repair & Replace Program (ERRP) and other community services. DHHR serves as a key intake point for low-income residents seeking assistance.
• Westbrook Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health and counseling services partner providing treatment for SSVF clients including counseling, housing programs, and peer support. Referrals flow bidirectionally as clients are connected to comprehensive mental health care.
• Veterans Administration (VA) BenefitscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSVF program provides comprehensive assistance including referrals to help veterans obtain VA benefits. Partners include VA medical centers such as VAMC Huntington for healthcare and benefits coordination.
• Huntington VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner healthcare facility providing mental health treatment including the psychiatric ward where some SSVF clients receive care. Vital partner for veteran holistic support services.
• Workforce WV / Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment services partnership helping SSVF veterans overcome barriers to employment through job coaching, professional attire (Dress for Success), and job placement referrals. Supports SCSEP participants with career coaching and job placement.
• Workforce Investment BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment services partner providing front desk receptionist positions for SSVF veterans and supporting workforce development initiatives across West Virginia.
• Marshall UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing daycare facilities for children of SSVF clients attending classes. Supports veteran family success stories such as Tara Williams who attended classes full time.
• Dress for SuccessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional attire and job coaching services partner helping SSVF veterans prepare for employment. Part of comprehensive employment support ecosystem.
• Lincoln Unity ApartmentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing provider partner in West Hamlin providing housing units for SSVF veterans. Example: Provided housing for Navy veteran Steven Pelfrey. Essential partner for rapid re-housing goals.
• City MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless shelter partner providing temporary housing for SSVF clients during transition. Referenced in veteran success stories as transitional housing option.
• SCSEP Host Agencies (Nonprofits and Government)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit organizations and government agencies serving as host/training sites for SCSEP participants. Host agencies provide supervision, training, and safe work sites while participants earn minimum wage and build skills.
• Food Pantries and Soup KitchensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partners providing food assistance to SSVF veterans and other clients during housing transitions and financial hardship periods.
• Community Agencies and GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead Start program collaborates with community partners to provide highest level of services to children and families, foster continuum of family-centered services, and advocate for supportive communities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CHANGE, Inc. West Virginia-based private nonprofit community action agency serving Brooke, Hancock, Ohio, Marshall, and Wetzel counties with Head Start, weatherization, utility assistance, and similar antipoverty programs — directly comparable regional peer with overlapping federal grant mix.
• Community Action of South Eastern West Virginia (CASE-WV): West Virginia CAA serving Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas, and Summers counties with Head Start, weatherization, and family support services — operates the same federal program portfolio as SCAC in an adjacent WV service area.
• Mountain Heart Community Services: Southern WV community action agency serving McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Summers, Raleigh, and Wyoming counties with Head Start, housing, and family services — highly comparable regional CAA model.
• Mountaineer Community Action Partnership: West Virginia CAA operating Head Start, SCSEP, weatherization, and similar federal antipoverty programs across southern WV counties — comparable multi-program CAA with overlapping funders.
• Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council / Mid-Ohio Valley Action: Regional council and CAA serving Wood, Wirt, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, and other WV counties with Head Start, weatherization, and senior services — direct geographic and programmatic peer.

Regional players

• Appalachian Community Capital: CDFI and regional capacity-builder focused on Appalachian community development; comparable in mission and WV/Appalachia service overlap, but operates as a funding intermediary rather than direct service provider.
• United Way of the River Cities: Local United Way affiliate serving the Huntington/Cabell County area — adjacent funder/partner in the same community, channeling dollars to many of the same nonprofit programs SCAC operates.

Broad incumbents

• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit operating SSVF, veteran housing, Head Start-like early learning, and aging services across dozens of states — competes with SCAC for SSVF grants and offers overlapping service lines at much larger scale.
• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operating SCSEP and other workforce development programs for low-income populations — directly comparable as a national SCSEP grantee with analogous mature-worker program design.

Others

• National Community Action Partnership: National membership and advocacy organization for the 1,000+ U.S. Community Action Agencies — not a direct competitor but the institutional framework SCAC operates within and the principal federal lobbying voice for CAA funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/southwesterncommunityactioncouncilwv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Southwestern Community Action Council