Grundy Area Vocational Center

What Grundy Area Vocational Center does

Grundy Area Vocational Center (GAVC) is a public career and technical education cooperative established in 1967, headquartered at 1002 Union Street in Morris, Illinois, serving junior and senior high school students from six member school districts: Coal City, Gardner-South Wilmington, Minooka, Morris, Reed Custer, and Wilmington. The center delivers 14+ vocational programs spanning Agriculture, Automotive Technology, Building Trades, Computer Graphics & Multimedia Design, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Entrepreneurship, Fire Science, Foundations of Teaching, Health Occupations, Heavy Equipment Technology, Welding, and Aviation (launching 2026-2027). Programs integrate industry-recognized credentials including AWS SENSE welding certification, ASE automotive certification, CNA licensure, Adobe Certified Professional, and ESB/MOS, supported by simulation technology, diagnostic equipment, and hands-on training resources. Instruction is delivered through a practitioner-led faculty including retired law enforcement and fire service leadership.

GAVC's business model is anchored in cooperative funding from the six member school districts, supplemented by modest per-course student fees ($20-$35), specialized certification fees (OSHA $35, ASE $23-$51), tool bundle purchases (e.g., $211 for Building Trades), and episodic revenue from Building Trades project house sales. Dual-credit articulation with Joliet Junior College (up to 14+ transferable credits) and University of St. Francis (8 credits) provides students with college credit pathways. GAVC is governed by a Board of Control composed of district representatives and holds no private equity, venture capital, or individual ownership stakes; it is a public educational entity. Distribution occurs through the main Morris campus and satellite facilities at Morris Municipal Airport, Coal City High School, Joliet Junior College, ASIP-Local 150 Wilmington, and Franklin Cosmetology Institute, with clinical partnerships at Morris Hospital and a GEDC internship network connecting students to 22 local employers offering 40+ paid summer positions.

Name

Grundy Area Vocational Center

Legal name

Grundy Area Vocational Center

Website

https://gavc-il.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grundy Area Vocational Center is a public cooperative vocational center, founded in 1967 in Morris, Illinois, delivering 14+ career and technical education programs to high school students from six member school districts through dual-credit and industry-certified pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Morris

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public School District Funding: GAVC operates as a public vocational center funded through cooperative agreements with member school districts (Coal City, Gardner-South Wilmington, Minooka, Morris, Reed Custer, Wilmington). Funding comes from district contributions based on student enrollment.
2. Student Program Fees: GAVC charges course fees ranging from $20-$35 per course, OSHA certification fees ($35), tool bundle purchases, and safety equipment fees. These are collected at the beginning of each school year.
3. Project House Sales: Building Trades program sells completed project houses to the public, generating revenue that supports the program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Grundy Area Vocational Center (GAVC) is a public career and technical education center providing hands-on vocational training to high school juniors and seniors from six feeder school districts in Grundy County, Illinois. It offers 14+ programs spanning welding, automotive technology, healthcare, construction, agriculture, firefighting, criminal justice, cosmetology, computer graphics, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, teaching, heavy equipment, aviation, and dual enrollment college pathways, with industry certifications and dual college credit articulation.

Product overview

Grundy Area Vocational Center (GAVC) is a secondary vocational school offering a portfolio of career and technical education programs for junior and senior high school students. The center provides 14 distinct educational programs including Agriculture, Automotive Technology, Building Trades, Computer Graphics & Multimedia Design, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Entrepreneurship, Fire Science, Foundations of Teaching, Heavy Equipment Technology, Health Occupations, Welding, and Aviation (new 2026-2027). GAVC also partners with Joliet Junior College for dual enrollment programs (ACE, AIM, AET, Business Academy) and offers a GEDC Summer Internship Program. Programs integrate SkillsUSA and HOSA student organizations for competitive events and provide industry certifications including AWS SENSE welding credentials, ASE automotive certification, CNA licensure, Adobe certifications, and college credit articulation with University of St. Francis and Joliet Junior College.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agriculture Program Agricultural education program covering animal science, plant science, agribusiness, and agricultural mechanics with FFA leadership development for high school juniors and seniors.
• Automotive Technology Automotive repair and maintenance training program covering engine diagnostics, braking systems, electrical circuits, and hybrid/electric vehicle technology with ASE Entry Level and ASE EPA 609 certification preparation.
• Building Trades Construction trades training program where students build actual project houses sold to the public, teaching carpentry, framing, and building skills.
• Computer Graphics & Multimedia Design Digital media design program teaching Adobe Creative Cloud applications for graphic design, video production, and visual effects with Adobe Certified Professional opportunities in Visual Design and Video Design.
• Cosmetology Cosmetology training program at Franklin Cosmetology Institute covering hair, skin, and nail care with state licensure preparation.
• Criminal Justice Law enforcement preparation program covering policing, courts, corrections, and security with dual credit through Joliet Junior College and 22 saferesponse.com online training certifications.
• Entrepreneurship Student-run business program operating a t-shirt and apparel company, teaching business management, marketing, and financial skills with ESB and MOS certifications.
• Fire Science Firefighting training program covering fire behavior, suppression, emergency medical response, and hazardous materials with JJC dual credit and live burn training.
• Foundations of Teaching Education career preparation program with clinical observations in local schools, offering 8 transferable dual credits through University of St. Francis and Gateways to Opportunity certification.
• Heavy Equipment Technology Heavy equipment mechanic training covering diesel engines, hydraulic systems, and equipment maintenance at ASIP-Local 150 in Wilmington, including cranes, bulldozers, front-end loaders, rollers, backhoes, and hoists.
• Health Occupations Healthcare career preparation with CNA certification (80% minimum pass requirement), Medical Assistant/EKG technician training, and clinical rotations at Morris Hospital covering suturing, phlebotomy, and EKG application.
• Welding Welding and fabrication training covering SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW processes with AWS SENSE Level 1 and Level 2 certification and dual credit through Joliet Junior College.
• Aviation Pilot and aerospace career preparation program starting 2026-2027, offered in partnership with D14 Aviation at Morris Municipal Airport (9980 N. Rt. 47, Morris, IL 60450), covering principles of flight, navigation, aircraft systems, meteorology, and aviation careers.
• JJC Programs (ACE, AIM, AET, Business Academy) Dual enrollment programs with Joliet Junior College including Architecture/Construction/Engineering (ACE), Advanced Integrated Maintenance (AIM), Advanced Engineering Technology (AET), and Business/Finance Academy offering up to 14+ college credits.
• GEDC Summer Internship Program Paid internship program operated in partnership with Grundy Economic Development Council (GEDC) and Senator Sue Rezin, placing students with 22 local companies in over 40 paid positions across industries including Aux Sable/Pembina, LyondellBasell, and D'Arcy Motors.
• GAVC Scholarships Scholarship opportunities for GAVC senior students continuing to post-secondary education at community college, university, or career-based trade schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 14+ dual college credits available through JJC partnerships
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Joliet Junior College (JJC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGAVC has extensive dual credit articulation agreements with JJC providing up to 14+ college credits across multiple programs including Welding (WLDG courses), Automotive Technology (AS 106), Fire Science (FSCI, EMS courses), Criminal Justice (White Collar Crime, Drug Use & Abuse), Computer Graphics (ART 110), Entrepreneurship (CIS 126), ACE/AIM/AET programs, and Business Academy (ACCY, ECON courses).
• University of St. FranciscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides dual credit for Foundations of Teaching (EDUC 107 - 3 credits) and Advanced Teaching Methods (EDUC 210 - 3 credits, EDUC 225 - 2 credits), totaling 8 transferable college credits. Students gain hands-on clinical experience in local schools since 2007.
• Franklin Cosmetology InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCosmetology program classes held at Franklin Cosmetology Institute at 519 Franklin St., Morris, IL. Students receive training using professional salon equipment and techniques with industry-experienced instructors.
• Morris HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Occupations students complete clinical rotations at Morris Hospital gaining hands-on patient care experience. Students learn skills including suturing, phlebotomy, EKG application, and medical simulation before clinical practice.
• D14 AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Aviation program (starting 2026-2027) operated in partnership with D14 Aviation at Morris Municipal Airport. Students learn airplane piloting, navigation, meteorology, and aerospace careers using flight training resources.
• ASIP-Local 150 (Wilmington)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeavy Equipment Technology off-campus program located at ASIP-Local 150 in Wilmington. Students train on heavy equipment including cranes, bulldozers, front-end loaders, rollers, backhoes, and hoists with diesel engine focus.
• Grundy County Heroes & Helpers Inc.minorOthersHealth Occupations CNA/MA Mentorship Program partnered with this 501(c)(3) first responder organization for community service projects including toy donations to local families experiencing hardship.
• Field Day SocialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrepreneurship students collaborated with Field Day Sporting Co. to design a t-shirt sold on the brand's website. Proceeds go back to GAVC. Field Day founder Patrick Keegan previously took the same entrepreneurship class.
• Grundy Economic Development Council (GEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Senator Sue Rezin and GEDC to operate the Grundy County Summer Internship Program providing 22 local companies with over 40 paid positions for high school students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Year Up: Year Up is a national workforce development nonprofit providing career training and job placement for young adults, overlapping with GAVC's mission of connecting students to skilled careers, particularly in technology and business tracks.

Broad incumbents

• ECPI University: ECPI University is a for-profit technical institution offering career-focused degree programs in technology, health, and trades that compete for similar career-oriented students and share the credentialing-driven value proposition with GAVC.
• Universal Technical Institute: UTI is a national public vocational school focused on automotive, diesel, welding, and industrial trades that competes for the same career-pathway students GAVC serves, with broader geographic reach and brand recognition.
• Lincoln Tech: Lincoln Tech is a national for-profit vocational school chain offering programs in welding, automotive, HVAC, and healthcare that overlap heavily with GAVC's portfolio, though operating at much larger scale across multiple states.

Direct peers

• Indian Valley Vocational Center: Indian Valley Vocational Center is a regional Illinois CTE cooperative serving multiple feeder high schools with comparable vocational programs and dual-credit arrangements, directly comparable in mission and operational model to GAVC.
• Joliet Junior College: JJC is GAVC's primary dual-credit partner and a nearby community college offering vocational and technical programs that overlap with several GAVC disciplines (welding, automotive, criminal justice, fire science), serving overlapping student populations in the same region.
• Kankakee Community College: Kankakee Community College is a regional Illinois community college with vocational and technical programs (welding, industrial tech, health occupations) serving a similar rural/small-city student demographic as GAVC.
• Wilco Area Career Center: Wilco Area Career Center is an Illinois-area cooperative vocational center serving high school students from multiple feeder districts with similar CTE programs (welding, automotive, health, etc.), making it the closest structural analog to GAVC.
• College of DuPage: College of DuPage is a large Illinois community college with extensive CTE programs (welding, automotive, health, fire science) serving the broader Chicago suburbs with similar vocational offerings to GAVC.

Others

• National Education Training Group: NETG provides workforce skills training and certification programs to education and employer partners, occupying the adjacent role of an outsourced training and certification provider that supports institutions like GAVC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100063938824998
• Instagraminstagram.com/grundyareavocationalcenter/?igsh=MXA0bjJsamtvZDMzcw%3D%3D
• Xx.com/Grundy_AVC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grundy-area-vocational-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Grundy Area Vocational Center