East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation

What East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation does

East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation (ECKAN) is a private, non-profit Community Action Agency incorporated in the State of Kansas on May 6, 1966, under the federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Headquartered at 1320 S. Ash St., Ottawa, Kansas, the agency delivers a coordinated portfolio of human-service programs across 16 East-Central Kansas counties, organized around four program families: Housing (Housing Choice Voucher administration, owned rental housing portfolio of 53 units, and a DOE/KHRC-funded Weatherization Assistance Program), Early Childhood Education (Office of Head Start-funded Head Start serving approximately 300 children ages 0-5), Self-Sufficiency (food pantries, Stepping Stones to Success case management, emergency assistance, and community gardens), and Community Engagement (Community Action Poverty Simulation training and triennial Community Needs Assessments). Service delivery is executed through 9 physical community centers in 9 counties supplemented by dedicated Head Start classrooms, weatherization offices, and a central phone/online intake system.

The underlying technology footprint is intentionally lightweight and commodity-based: a WordPress public website acts as the unified front door, with PayPal for donation processing, Constant Contact for quarterly newsletter distribution, DocuSign for the Weatherization online application, Google Analytics for traffic measurement, Microsoft SharePoint for internal staff document sharing, Microsoft Forms for Board of Trustees questionnaires, and Paylocity for HR/recruiting. The Weatherization program uses specialized energy audit software compliant with the Kansas SWS Field Guide, and the HCV program operates via a Housing Manager-based waiting list system. No proprietary software, API, SDK, or AI/ML capability is developed or exposed.

ECKAN's revenue model is fundamentally grant-funded: the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) from HHS/Administration for Children and Families provided $6,259,828 for FFY 2025 (covering 100% of CSBG program costs), supplemented by HUD Housing Choice Voucher funding ($1,047,192 administered in 2025), DOE Weatherization via Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, Head Start grant #07CH012519, tax-deductible private donations, and rental income from the owned housing portfolio. All direct services to income-eligible clients (Head Start, weatherization, food pantries, case management, emergency assistance) are provided free of charge, with eligibility tied to federal poverty guidelines; rental housing is the only revenue stream priced on a unit basis ($240 subsidized to $995 market rate at Prairie Fire | Ottawa).

Name

East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation

Legal name

East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation

Website

https://eckan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation (ECKAN) is a 501(c)-equivalent non-profit Community Action Agency founded in 1966 that delivers housing, Head Start, food, weatherization, case management, and emergency assistance programs free of charge to income-eligible residents across 16 East-Central Kansas counties, funded primarily by federal HHS, HUD, and DOE grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Action and Human Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education (BPADAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB), Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping Resources (State/NAEYC/Head Start) (EDACAJAN), Assessment & Screening Tools (Developmental, Readiness, Progress Monitoring) (EDACAJAC), Facility & Environmental Compliance (building/fire/playground) (EDACAKAK), Adaptive & Personalized Learning Platforms for ECE (EDACANAJ)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Weatherization assistance
• Housing choice vouchers
• Early childhood education
• Emergency assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Federal Funding: Federally funded block grant from the Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The award provided 100% of total costs and totaled $6,259,828 for FFY 2025. This is a primary recurring revenue source for the agency.
2. Head Start Grant (HHS/ACF): ECKAN's website is supported by Grant Number #07CH012519 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recurring federal grant funding for the Head Start program.
3. HUD Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Funding: HUD-funded Housing Choice Voucher program, with $1,047,192 in Total HUD Housing Assistance reported for 2025. The HCV program is funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
4. Weatherization Program Funding (DOE / LIEAP): Funded by federal Department of Energy (DOE) and Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) funds regulated by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. Used to deliver free weatherization services to eligible low-income households.
5. Tax-Deductible Donations: Donations from individuals and organizations processed through PayPal, with suggested giving levels ($10, $25, $50, $75, $100). Donations are tax-deductible and may be designated to a specific county or program. Also includes in-kind community grants used for emergency assistance.
6. Rental Housing Income: Income from 53 owned rental houses in Emporia, Ottawa, Osawatomie, Paola, Waverly, and LeRoy, including mixed-income units. Example Prairie Fire Ottawa units are projected at $240 subsidized to $995 market rate. Average 40 rental units leased per month.
7. Emergency Assistance Funds (Federal, Donations, Community Grants): ECKAN uses federal funds, donations, and community grants to provide emergency services including rent/utilities, gas vouchers, health care vouchers, holiday bureau programs, school supply programs, and travel assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ECKAN is a non-profit Community Action Agency that delivers free, income-tested anti-poverty programs to low-income individuals and families across 16 East Central Kansas counties. Its core offerings include the Weatherization Assistance Program, Housing Choice Voucher administration, a portfolio of 53 owned affordable rental houses, Head Start early childhood education, food pantries, goal-based case management, and emergency assistance for rent, utilities, and health-related needs.

Product overview

East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation (ECKAN) is not a single unified software product; it is a multi-program community action agency that delivers a coordinated portfolio of human-service programs across 16 counties in East Central Kansas. The portfolio is organized around three core program families — Housing (Housing Choice Voucher, Rental Housing, Weatherization), Early Childhood (Head Start), and Self-Sufficiency (Case Management, Food Pantries, Emergency Assistance, Community Gardens) — supplemented by community-level offerings such as the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) training and the triennial Community Needs Assessment. Underpinning this portfolio is a WordPress-based public website (with PayPal donations, Constant Contact newsletters, DocuSign application signing, and Paylocity-powered hiring) that acts as the unified front door across all programs, rather than a single product with modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weatherization Assistance Program Free home energy-efficiency services (insulation, air sealing, HVAC tune-ups, safety repairs) and a comprehensive energy audit for income-eligible households across the 16-county service area, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and administered per the Kansas SWS Field Guide by KDHE-licensed contractor firms; delivers an average of $283 in annual savings per customer.
• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program Federal HUD-funded rental assistance that subsidizes rent for income-eligible families, paired with Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections and a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) escrow-track case management component; available in Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Lyon, Miami, and Osage counties.
• Rental Housing Affordable rental housing units owned and managed by ECKAN, including 53 houses across Emporia, Ottawa, Osawatomie, Paola, Waverly, and LeRoy, with a waitlist-based application system and tenant maintenance request handling; the Prairie Fire | Ottawa project adds 2-bedroom units at $240 subsidized to $995 market rate.
• Head Start Federally funded free research-backed early childhood education program for income-eligible children and their families from prenatal to age five, including center-based and home-based options plus Early Head Start Childcare Partnerships, supported by Office of Head Start grant #07CH012519; served 300 children ages 0-5 in 2025.
• Food Pantries Community-based food distribution sites that provide emergency food boxes to households in need across the 16-county service area, coordinated with partner pantries and Harvesters Mobile Food Pantry distributions.
• Case Management (Stepping Stones to Success) Goal-based case management that helps low-income individuals and families build financial stability through monthly meetings with Community Coordinators, self-assessments, goal setting and planning, budgeting assistance, and advocacy.
• Emergency Assistance Short-term, crisis-driven aid for rent, utilities, gas vouchers, health care vouchers, school supplies, holiday bureau programs, and travel assistance, funded through CSBG federal funds, donations, and in-kind community grants.
• Community Gardens Neighborhood garden plots in Ottawa operated seasonally (April 1 to October 1), with application and water agreement management and a 25% harvest donation requirement to local food pantries.
• Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) Interactive poverty simulation training for policy makers and local community leaders, using a tool licensed via the Missouri Association for Community Action; participants assume roles of families facing poverty to build empathy and inform local policy.

Named customers1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-administers the Kansas Weatherization Assistance Program (KWAP) and LIEAP funds. Hosts the Kansas SWS Field Guide used by ECKAN contractors. Collaborates on rental housing programs (ECKAN partners with KHRC to provide affordable rental housing).
• Kansas Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with ECKAN, Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, area units of government, and local financial institutions to provide affordable rental housing for low-income tenants.
• City of OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the Prairie Fire mixed-income duplex development in north Ottawa. ECKAN owns and operates units, the City of Ottawa is a co-developer, and Prairie Fire is the development partner. 34 total units, with 28 new units at below-market rates. Scheduled for August leasing.
• Prairie Fire (Prairie Fire, Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer with ECKAN and the City of Ottawa of a 34-unit mixed-income duplex development in north Ottawa, adding 28 new below-market-rate housing units. Construction scheduled for completion in time for August leasing.
• Community Action NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerECKAN is a member of the Community Action Network, the national umbrella of Community Action agencies born during the 1960s federal War on Poverty. ECKAN is one of more than 1,000 such agencies.
• Missouri Association for Community ActioncoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerProvides the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) copyrighted tool to ECKAN, which ECKAN uses to host poverty simulation training sessions for policy makers and community leaders.
• Harvesters (The Harvesters Community Food Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides Mobile Food Pantry distributions hosted at ECKAN sites. Don Woodward Center parking lot in Franklin County (First Wednesday at 2 p.m. and Third Friday at 11:30 a.m.) and Osage City Community Building parking lot in Osage County (Third Thursday at 10 a.m.). Drive-through distribution, no sign-up required.
• City of Ottawa (Community Gardens Water Agreement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides water service and a water agreement for the Ottawa Community Gardens program, supporting ECKAN's garden plots and food security programming.
• Local dental clinics, health departments, vision clinics, and gas stations (voucher partners)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccept ECKAN's voucher system to provide prescription, dental, vision, and health care services, often at discounted rates, enabling emergency assistance customers to access care.
• Private landlords (HCV landlords)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContract with ECKAN's Housing Choice Voucher program to provide rental units meeting Housing Quality Standards. Tenants pay a portion based on income; ECKAN pays the remainder directly to the landlord.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Northeast Kansas Community Action Program (NEK-CAP): NEK-CAP is a Kansas Community Action Agency delivering CSBG, Head Start, weatherization, housing, and emergency assistance across northeast Kansas. It is the closest direct peer to ECKAN in terms of program mix, federal funding structure, and target population, though it serves a non-overlapping geography.
• Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEK-CAP): SEK-CAP is a Kansas Community Action Agency running an essentially identical program portfolio (CSBG, Head Start, weatherization, housing, case management) for low-income households in southeast Kansas. Highly comparable to ECKAN in funding stack and service design.
• Southwest Kansas Community Action Program (SWK-CAP): SWK-CAP is a Kansas Community Action Agency delivering CSBG, weatherization, housing, and self-sufficiency programs in southwest Kansas. Comparable in mission, federal funding mix, and integrated service model, though serving a rural service area distinct from ECKAN's.
• Community Action, Inc. (Central Kansas): Community Action, Inc. of Central Kansas is a Community Action Agency headquartered in Salina offering Head Start, weatherization, housing, and self-sufficiency services under the same federal funding streams as ECKAN. Comparable in size and program mix.

Broad incumbents

• National Community Action Partnership (NCAP): NCAP is the national membership organization for the 1,000+ Community Action Agencies to which ECKAN belongs. It sets practice standards, provides training, and advocates federally, giving ECKAN both an industry context and a mechanism for scaling influence.

Regional players

• Thrive Allen County: Thrive Allen County is a non-profit anti-poverty organization focused on health, housing, and economic opportunity in Allen County, Kansas — one of the counties ECKAN's weatherization program serves. Comparable in poverty-relief mission and community-development orientation, with some direct service overlap.

Others

• Harvesters Community Food Network: Harvesters is a regional food bank that partners with ECKAN to host Mobile Food Pantry distributions across the service area. Comparable in food-security mission, donor base, and federal nutrition-program participation, but operates a food-bank model rather than a Community Action Agency model.
• Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC): KHRC is the state housing finance agency that co-administers the Kansas Weatherization Assistance Program, LIEAP funds, and affordable rental housing programs with ECKAN. It is a partner/regulator in ECKAN's housing and weatherization lines and a logical state-level peer for affordable housing strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eckanks
• Xx.com/eckan1966

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation