Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

What Metropolitan Center for Independent Living does

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is a Minnesota-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1981 that delivers a portfolio of disability services to people with disabilities, transition-age youth, older adults, personal care assistants (PCAs), and employers across the Twin Cities seven-county metro area. Its service catalog includes ADA Minnesota, case management, home modification and ramps, independent living and vocational rehabilitation (IL/VR), individual advocacy, youth transition services, workforce development under WIOA, and nursing home relocation/transition services. The organization operates as a consumer-directed entity governed by people with disabilities and employs approximately 240 staff and PCAs, making it one of the largest of Minnesota's eight designated Centers for Independent Living.

MCIL's core 'platform' assets are programmatic rather than technological: an 80-hour Certified Direct Support Professional curriculum developed for college accreditation, a PCA College Service Corps pilot (AmeriCorps-style model placing 50 college students into paid PCA roles), the MCIL 7 Life Sustaining Dimensions framework, and an SMS/website/Zoom-based hybrid delivery model. Its underlying technology is lightweight — Microsoft Forms-based pre/post surveys with QR codes for the youth transition program, an SMS reminder service at 651-646-8342, an online Long COVID Community Survey, and a WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformant website — not a unified software product. There is no public API, SDK, or developer-facing platform.

The revenue model is nonprofit/grant-funded. Primary inflows are federal and state government grants (including Administration for Community Living funding, state disability services contracts, and workforce development grants), supplemented by individual and organizational donations (online and mail-in) and limited fees for training presentations, ADA consultation, and workforce development programs. No public pricing exists; services are delivered free to consumers. Notable grant events include a $208,000 Bush Foundation Community Innovation Grant (May 2022) and a $2.1 million Bush Foundation grant (September 2025) for the Certified Direct Care Support Professionals Pilot Project.

Name

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

Legal name

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

Website

https://mcil-mn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

MCIL is a Minnesota nonprofit Center for Independent Living, founded in 1981, that provides disability services — including ADA guidance, case management, home modification, individual advocacy, PCA workforce development, and nursing home relocation — to approximately 240 staff/PCAs serving the Twin Cities seven-county metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services / Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Independent Living with Supportive Services (Light ADL/IADL Support) (HLADAAAE)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Independent living
• Case management
• ADA compliance training
• Personal care assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary funding from federal and state government grants for Centers for Independent Living, including ACL (Administration for Community Living) funding, state disability services funding, and workforce development grants
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and organizational donations, with online donation capabilities through website and mail-in check options
3. Program Services Revenue: Fees for certain services and programs including training presentations, ADA consultation services, and workforce development programs

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is a Twin Cities nonprofit Center for Independent Living providing direct disability services — including case management, individual advocacy, home modification and ramps, independent living and vocational rehabilitation (IL/VR), ADA Minnesota training, PCA College Service Corps, youth transition services, transitional services and nursing home relocation, and WIOA employment services — to people with disabilities in the seven-county metro area. The organization is also developing and piloting an 80-hour Certified Direct Support Professional curriculum at metro-area colleges and universities to address the direct care workforce shortage.

Product overview

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of disability services and programs rather than a unified software product. The organization provides core services including ADA Minnesota (ADA guidance and compliance), Case Management, Home Modification and Ramps, Independent Living and Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Individual Advocacy (with in-person classes), PCA College Service Corps, Transitional Services and Nursing Home Relocation, WIOA Services, and Youth Transition Services. A key initiative is the Certified Direct Support Professional curriculum being piloted at colleges to address the direct care workforce shortage. Services are available to consumers with disabilities in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ADA Minnesota Statewide program providing information, resources, and guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including technical assistance, training, and support for filing complaints related to disability discrimination. Hosted by MCIL as part of the ADA National Network.
• Case Management Coordinated support services that help individuals with disabilities manage their care, access resources, and navigate systems to maintain independent living.
• Home Modification and Ramps Services to assess and modify homes for accessibility, including installation of ramps and other modifications to enable independent living for people with disabilities.
• Independent Living and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IL/VR) Services helping individuals with disabilities develop skills for independent living and pursue employment goals through vocational rehabilitation.
• Individual Advocacy Advocacy services supporting individuals with disabilities in asserting their rights, accessing accommodations, and addressing discrimination, including in-person classes and activities such as Housing Class, Self Advocacy Class, Driver's Ed Class, and Independent Living Top 10 Class.
• PCA College Service Corps A pilot program based on the AmeriCorps model that recruits college students to serve as paid Personal Care Assistants while receiving mentoring and pathways to careers in direct care.
• Transitional Services and Nursing Home Relocation (NHR) Services facilitating transition from nursing homes and institutions to community living, and supporting those at risk of entering institutions.
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Services Employment and training services aligned with federal WIOA legislation to help individuals with disabilities gain employment and career advancement.
• Youth Transition Services Services helping youth with disabilities transition to postsecondary education, employment, and independent adult living, supported by a Pre/Post Survey system using QR codes and Microsoft Forms.
• Disability Hub MN Resource hub providing information and guidance for Minnesotans with disabilities to navigate services, benefits, and support systems.
• Certified Direct Support Professional Curriculum An 80-hour, 85-page curriculum leading to the credential of a Certified Direct Support Professional, developed by MCIL and being piloted at metro-area colleges and universities to address the direct care workforce crisis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 240+ employees and PCAs serving the disability community
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Minnesota State HealthForce Center of ExcellencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with MCIL on developing and refining the Certified Direct Support Professional curriculum for implementation at metro-area colleges and universities.
• Minnesota Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCIL works with DHS on PCA Rate Framework legislation and the Disability Services Division for PCA College Service Corps pilot program.
• Great Lakes ADA CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCIL hosts ADA Minnesota, part of the ADA National Network coordinated by the Great Lakes ADA Center, providing ADA training, resources, and technical assistance.
• HealthForce MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing PCA College Service Corps program and curriculum development for direct care workforce.
• Women Staying StrongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiane Drost and Women Staying Strong advocated for PCA College Service Corps; now part of the MCIL PCA College Service Corps Advisory Committee.
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresentatives from University of Minnesota on the MCIL PCA College Service Corps Advisory Committee; Institute on Community Integration collaboration.
• Minnesota Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCIL partnered with MDH on Statewide Roadmap for Long COVID and Post-Viral Chronic Conditions and COVID-19 community coordination.
• Trellis (Area Agency on Aging)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresident and CEO Dawn Simonson provided input on PCA curriculum from perspective of Area Agency on Aging serving 45,000+ older adults annually.
• Minnesota State College FacultycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour Minnesota State faculty working with MCIL on developing the Certified Direct Support Professional curriculum.
• GUSU (Graduate and Professional Student Government)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented on MCIL PCA College Service Corps Advisory Committee.
• Disability Hub MNsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-referenced resource partnership for disability services information and navigation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MCILMN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metropolitan-center-for-independent-living

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Metropolitan Center for Independent Living