Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties

What Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties does

The Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties (CEC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 1991 and headquartered in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, serving the rural two-county region of Elk and Cameron Counties. It operates as a multi-purpose community education and workforce development hub, offering certification testing (Pearson VUE, ETS Praxis, Metro Institute), degree pathways through university partnerships with Penn State DuBois, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College, Butler County Community College, and Clarion University, professional development workshops, a public makerspace (TheSpace), and structured K-12 and adult career programming anchored by its DISCOVER Partnership curriculum.

The organization monetizes through a mix of government grants (63% of revenue in 2018-2019), other grants and contributions (23%), program service revenue (16%), investment income (3%), and other (1%). Program pricing spans low-ticket offerings such as room rentals ($50-$100) and food safety courses ($175-$200), mid-range leadership and professional development programs ($230-$1,100), and high-ticket credentialing such as CDL Class A Training at $5,500. Customers include individual adult learners, K-12 students, local employers, school districts, and community cohorts engaged in flagship programs such as Leadership Elk & Cameron (265+ graduates since 2007) and DISCOVER (21,000+ career development engagements).

Its distribution model is facility-based and relationship-driven, anchored by 51-100 employees delivering 1,200+ annual course enrollments, 350+ certification exams, 1,000 mock interviews, 1,300 job shadows, and 6,300+ guest speaker engagements. Strategic positioning is that of a regional monopoly for in-person certification testing and community-based adult education in a low-density market, with growth dependent on grant funding, employer partnerships, and incremental program diversification (DISCOVER STEM launched 2023; Elk County Child Care Planning Initiative launching March 2026).

Name

Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties

Legal name

Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties

Website

https://communityedcenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1991 in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, providing certification testing, university degree pathways, workforce development, and community programming to adult learners, K-12 students, and employers in rural northern Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ), Engineering & Technical Professions (PE, Engineering CPD) (EDAAALAF), Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)

Keywords

• Community education
• Adult learning
• Career development
• Workforce training
• Certification testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Marys

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary revenue source at 63% of total revenue (2018-2019 fiscal year). Federal and state grants support community education programming.
2. Program Service Revenue: Tuition and fees from workshops, certification testing, degree programs, and facility rentals. Represents 16% of total revenue (2018-2019 fiscal year).
3. Other Grants & Contributions: Foundation grants and private donations including support from Stackpole Hall Foundation and others. Represents 23% of total revenue (2018-2019 fiscal year).
4. Investment Income: Returns on organizational reserves and endowment funds. Represents 3% of total revenue (2018-2019 fiscal year).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties (CEC) is a nonprofit community education center that delivers adult education, college-credit degree courses, professional development workshops, certification testing, and K-12 career and STEM programming to residents of Elk and Cameron Counties, Pennsylvania. Its core offerings include on-site credit courses (delivered via Interactive Television from partner universities), Pearson VUE/ETS Praxis/Metro Institute certification testing, ed2Go online career training, the DISCOVER Partnership and DISCOVER STEM K-12 programs, Leadership Elk & Cameron, TheSpace Makerspace, career counseling, and facility rentals.

Product overview

The Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties is a community education organization (not a software product company) offering a multi-faceted portfolio of educational services. Its core offerings include certification testing (Pearson VUE, ETS Praxis), online career training via ed2Go partnership, and on-site degree programs through regional college partnerships. The Center provides professional development through workshops and the Leadership Launchpad Certificate Program. Its signature programs include Leadership Elk & Cameron (LEC) for adult leadership development and the DISCOVER Partnership/DISCOVER STEM for K-12 career and STEM education. Additional services encompass career counseling, Toastmasters clubs, a makerspace (TheSpace), facility rentals, child care planning initiatives, and scholarship opportunities. The organization does not offer a software product with technical integrations or API capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DISCOVER Partnership: Business and education partnership program that creates programs to educate people about career opportunities available in Elk and Cameron Counties
• DISCOVER STEM
• Leadership Elk & Cameron (LEC)
• TheSpace (Makerspace)
• TheSpace

Products and services

• Certification Testing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,200+ annual enrollments in credit, non-credit, and enrichment courses
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• The Pennsylvania KeysecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Facilitating the Elk County Child Care Planning Initiative in partnership with Stackpole Hall Foundation.
• Elcam Inc.secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Manufacturing partner collaborating with CEC on LEGO Wall project and other workforce initiatives.
• Community Education Council of Elk and Cameron CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Founding partner that collaborated to create the Leadership Elk & Cameron program. The Council works with Ridgway-Elk Chamber of Commerce/Main Street Program and St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Ridgway-Elk Chamber of Commerce/Main Street ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Collaborative partner in developing Leadership Elk & Cameron program alongside Community Education Council and St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce.
• St. Marys Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Collaborative partner in developing Leadership Elk & Cameron program alongside Community Education Council and Ridgway-Elk Chamber.
• Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary educational partner offering credit courses and degree programs locally at the CEC facility in St. Marys. NPRC's mission is to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary education to residents of northern Pennsylvania. Offers associate degrees and certificate programs.
• Penn State DuBoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner offering credit courses at the CEC facility. Students can take credit courses locally toward various degree programs.
• University of Pittsburgh BradfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner offering credit courses at the CEC facility. Students can complete portions of degree programs locally.
• Butler County Community College (BC3)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers programs and classes at satellite location in Brockway, Pennsylvania. Also partners through CEC for local course delivery.
• Northwest Industrial Resource Center (NWIRC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorkforce development and manufacturing training partner. Provides operational excellence, lean manufacturing, and professional development training programs at CEC.
• Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorkforce training partner providing professional development workshops including Leadership Launchpad certificate program, RAMP training, and food safety certification.
• Pearson VUEcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized test center for computer-based certification and professional licensure exams including GED, CompTIA, Cisco, and others.
• ETS PraxiscoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized test center for teacher certification exams including Praxis Core, Subject Assessments, and Content Knowledge for Teaching tests.
• Metro InstitutecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides online computer-based testing services for Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture pesticide certification exams.
• ed2GocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline career training provider offering over 700 courses. CEC serves as local enrollment and support hub for ed2Go programs with dedicated student advisors.
• Toastmasters International - Elk County Toastmasters ClubsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunication and leadership skills development program meeting at CEC-affiliated location. Members practice public speaking, critique, and meeting leadership.
• GED Testing ServicecoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial GED exam delivery partner through Pearson VUE test center.
• North Central Workforce Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development partner supporting employment and training initiatives in north central Pennsylvania.
• PA CareerLinksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer services partner connecting job seekers with education and training resources.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• North Central Workforce Development Board: NCWDB is CEC's regional workforce development partner serving the same north central Pennsylvania geography with employment and training initiatives. Both organizations compete for similar federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding and serve overlapping employer and job seeker populations.
• Northwest Industrial Resource Center (NWIRC): NWIRC is a manufacturing-focused workforce development organization in northwestern Pennsylvania that partners with CEC to deliver lean manufacturing, operational excellence, and professional development training. Both serve manufacturers with workforce and certification programs in adjacent PA regions.
• ed2Go (Cengage): ed2Go is CEC's online career training partner offering 700+ courses in healthcare, IT, business, and manufacturing — directly competing with CEC's professional development workshops and certification offerings. Both target adult learners seeking accessible, non-degree career training.
• Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA): MBA is a regional manufacturing association providing professional development workshops, leadership training, and food safety certification that CEC also delivers. Both serve similar manufacturing employers and workforce populations in western and north central Pennsylvania.
• Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania: Goodwill operates workforce development and adult education programs across the same western Pennsylvania region as CEC, including job training, career counseling, and credential programs. Both are non-profits addressing workforce gaps for underserved populations with grant-funded models.
• Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation: CPWDC is a 501(c)(3) workforce development organization where CEC's Executive Director Kate Brock previously worked. It conducts workforce needs assessments and coordinates job training across a multi-county region — directly comparable to CEC's regional convening and workforce development function.
• Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC): NPRC is a regional community college serving the same rural northern Pennsylvania counties as CEC, offering associate degrees and certificate programs to underserved populations. Both organizations share an explicit mission of accessible post-secondary education in rural PA and serve overlapping student populations, making them the most direct functional peer.

Regional players

• Penn State DuBois: Penn State DuBois is a regional Penn State campus that delivers credit courses at CEC's St. Marys facility and serves the same rural north central Pennsylvania market. While a university satellite rather than a community ed center, it competes for the same adult learners seeking accessible higher education.
• Butler County Community College (BC3): BC3 is a community college operating a satellite location in Brockway, PA that partners with CEC and serves a similar rural western Pennsylvania population with credit and continuing education programs. Both offer workforce credentials and accessible post-secondary education to underserved rural communities.

Broad incumbents

• PA CareerLink: PA CareerLink is Pennsylvania's statewide workforce development system connecting job seekers with education and training resources. As a CEC partner, it serves overlapping job seeker and employer populations through a much larger government infrastructure across all 67 PA counties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CEC_ElkCameron
• Facebookfacebook.com/communityedcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-education-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties