Central States SER

What Central States SER does

Central States SER, Jobs for Progress Inc. is a non-profit workforce development organization established in 1987, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and operating as part of the multi-state Unified SER Family network led by parent SER Metro Detroit, Jobs for Progress, Inc. The organization delivers federally and state-funded employment, training, and supportive services to Cook County residents through three American Job Center (AJC) locations — the Little Village Center (3948 W. 26th Street), the North Riverside SERCO AJC (7222 W Cermak Rd), and the Malcolm X College West Campus AJC (4624 W Madison St) — supplemented by embedded community partner sites at schools, churches, and community centers. Year after year the organization serves over 12,000 individuals, with programs spanning low-income youth ages 16-24, low-income and dislocated adults, SNAP/TANF recipients, and employer customers.

Central States SER's service portfolio is structured around statutory funding streams rather than proprietary products. Core programs include WIOA Adult and WIOA Youth services, Illinois DHS Programs for SNAP/TANF recipients, the CEJA Workforce Hub for clean energy careers (solar, wind, EV, energy efficiency with NCCER, OSHA-10, NABCEP certifications), the Construction Pipeline (ComEd Construct Infrastructure Academy and ConstructionWorks powered by Illinois Tollway), and a 13-week Solar Panel Installation Training Program. Youth-specific offerings include the Reconnection Hub, YES! (Youth Empowered to Succeed), Out-of-School/Justice-Involved programming, Diverse Studios (media/creative skills), Chicago Youth Works/One Summer Chicago, and the Little Village Youth Safety Network. Employer Services provide free job postings, pre-screened candidates, hiring events, and On-The-Job Training (OJT) reimbursement (up to 75% for companies with 50 or fewer employees). The organization has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is in-person and staff-mediated, relying on career coaches, bilingual staff, and program coordinators rather than digital tools.

The business model is grant-funded and not transactional: revenue is derived from government workforce programs administered by Illinois DCEO, Illinois IDHS, the U.S. Department of Labor via the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, and the Illinois Tollway/ComEd. All participant services are provided free of charge to eligible residents, and employer services are similarly free, with OJT reimbursement flowing back to participating companies. The three primary customer segments — youth, adults, and employers — are addressed through parallel program tracks with distinct eligibility criteria. SERCO operates as a wholly-owned operating subsidiary, and the broader organization benefits from shared executive management and back-office support through its SER Metro Detroit parent. Competitive position rests on regulatory approvals (WIOA/DCEO/IDHS/CEJA provider status), 37 years of community embeddedness, and a multi-location physical service footprint across Chicago and suburban Cook County.

Name

Central States SER

Legal name

Central States SER, Jobs for Progress Inc.

Website

https://centralstatesser.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Central States SER is a Chicago-based non-profit workforce development organization founded in 1987, operating three American Job Centers that deliver free employment, occupational training, and supportive services to over 12,000 Cook County youth, adults, and employers annually under government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Occupational job training
• Career coaching
• Youth employment programs
• Clean energy training

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Workforce Development Funding: Central States SER operates as a nonprofit workforce development organization primarily funded through government workforce programs including WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), DCEO (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity), IDHS (Illinois Department of Human Services/SNAP/TANF), and Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Central States SER is a non-profit workforce development organization that delivers free employment assistance, occupational job training, and career coaching to Cook County, Illinois residents, primarily low-income adults and youth ages 16-24. Core services include SERCO, WIOA Adult/Youth programs, DHS Programs (SNAP/TANF), CEJA clean energy training, a Solar Panel Training Program, Construction Pipeline programs, Employer Services with On-the-Job Training reimbursement, and youth-focused programs such as the Reconnection Hub, YES!, Diverse Studios, and Chicago Youth Works, all funded by government grants.

Product overview

Central States SER (Jobs for Progress Inc.) is a non-profit workforce development organization offering a comprehensive suite of employment and training services. The core offerings include SERCO (employment assistance and occupational job training), WIOA Adult/Youth programs, and DHS Programs (SNAP/TANF employment services). Specialized training programs include the Construction Pipeline (ComEd Construct Infrastructure Academy and ConstructionWorks), CEJA Workforce Hub for clean energy careers, and a Solar Panel Training Program. Youth services encompass WIOA Youth, Reconnection Hub, Out of School & Justice Involved programs, YES! (Youth Empowered to Succeed), and Diverse Studios media program. Employer Services provide free placement assistance, hiring events, and On The Job Training reimbursement programs. The organization serves Cook County, IL residents primarily ages 16-24 and adults, focusing on low-income individuals and those facing employment barriers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Reconnection Hub: Youth development program for ages 16-24 providing mentorship, academic support, career readiness training, and hands-on learning experiences including Diverse Studios media program.
• Youth Empowered to Succeed (YES!)

Products and services

• SERCO Employment Assistance and Occupational Job Training Free employment assistance and occupational job training program for Cook County residents, providing labor market counseling, career coaching, interview and resume support, job referrals, hiring events, and auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities.
• WIOA Adult Services Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program for low-income adults providing employment assistance, occupational training, and supportive services for Cook County residents.
• WIOA Youth Services Workforce development program for out-of-school youth ages 16-24 offering GED classes, career coaching, job readiness workshops, paid work experience, and job placement services.
• WIOA Low Income Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 individuals served annually
• +1 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2021DCEO administers the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) workforce training programs. Central States SER is an approved CEJA Workforce Hub and Navigation program provider.
• SER Metro Detroit, Jobs for Progress Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization that leads the Unified SER Family, a multi-state network with sites in Texas and Michigan. Central States SER operates under the umbrella of this parent organization and shared executive management team.
• Chicago Cook Workforce PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. Partners with Central States SER to deliver workforce development services including CEJA programs.
• Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDHS oversees SNAP and TANF programs and partners with Central States SER to deliver employment and training services to public benefit recipients.
• ComEdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the ComEd Construct Infrastructure Academy, a workforce development program preparing individuals for entry-level careers in the utility and energy infrastructure industry.
• Illinois TollwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports ConstructionWorks program, a free industry-led program that helps people enter construction careers through pre-apprenticeship training, career coaching, and direct employer connections.
• Chicago Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOAR program (Student Outreach and Re-engagement) collaboration serves students who need pathways toward high school graduation.
• One Summer Chicago / Chicago Youth WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity-wide initiative bringing together government, community organizations, and employers to offer subsidized employment and internship opportunities for youth ages 16-24 during summer months.
• Malcolm X CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Job Center located at Malcolm X College West Campus, providing employment and training services to students and community members.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Able Network: National nonprofit workforce development provider operating WIOA, SNAP E&T, and reentry programs in Chicago and other metros. Direct competitor for many of the same government-funded employment contracts.
• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training and corporate placement for young adults from low-income communities. Highly comparable youth-to-career pipeline model, though operates at much larger national scale and with longer-duration programming.
• SER Metro Detroit, Jobs for Progress Inc. Parent organization of Central States SER and lead of the Unified SER Family network. Operates parallel workforce development programs in Detroit with shared executive management — the structural parent and closest operational peer.
• Skills for Chicagoland's Future: Chicago-based nonprofit workforce development organization serving similar low-income and barriered populations with employer-driven job placement and training. Direct competitor for the same AJC and corporate training contracts in Cook County.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology training and career support to individuals from low-income backgrounds. Comparable in model (employer-aligned training, OJT, wraparound support) and funding structure (government + employer).
• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based human services nonprofit providing employment, housing, healthcare, and refugee services. Operates workforce development programs targeting similar low-income and immigrant populations in Cook County.
• Jewish Vocational Service of Chicago: Chicago-based nonprofit offering employment training, vocational rehabilitation, and career services to underserved populations including refugees, immigrants, and people with disabilities. Direct geographic and service-line competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Eckerd Connects: National nonprofit providing workforce development, youth services, and reentry programs through government contracts (WIOA, DOL, state agencies). Comparable in funding model and youth/adult populations served, though with broader youth/family services portfolio.
• Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development network, operating mission-driven job training and placement across hundreds of affiliates. Comparable in mission and funding model, but vastly broader in geographic reach and program breadth.

Others

• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: Workforce intermediary that administers WIOA funding flowing to Central States SER and other AJCs in Chicago/Cook County. Functions primarily as a funder/convener rather than a direct service competitor, but shapes the competitive landscape for member providers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lvrh_ser
• Xx.com/serworkforce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Central States SER