Community Connection of Northeast Oregon

What Community Connection of Northeast Oregon does

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Inc. (CCNO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded on January 9, 1969, and headquartered at 2802 Adams Avenue in La Grande, Oregon. The organization operates as a designated Area Agency on Aging under the Older Americans Act, a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency, and a Community Development Corporation, delivering a portfolio of 18+ interconnected programs across Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Grant counties. Its service lines span emergency housing and rental assistance, LIHEAP energy assistance, housing weatherization and rehabilitation, homeownership and down payment assistance (up to $20,000 interest-free loans), a 5-to-1 matched Individual Development Account (IDA) savings program, foreclosure avoidance counseling, senior meal sites, home-delivered meals, in-home caregiver programs (OPI and VA), family caregiver support, and veteran-specific services.

The organization runs a regional food bank network that distributes 1.1 million pounds of food annually through 18 food pantries and 11 Harvest Share sites, with nearly 44% of recipients being children and 80% of food and funding sourced from local donors. CCNO also operates public transit services across three counties (Union, Baker, Wallowa), including deviated fixed routes, dial-a-ride, medical transportation, and intercity connections, with a real-time tracking application called SPOT currently deployed in La Grande. The technology stack is intentionally lightweight: GTFS-compliant schedule data managed through Trillium Solutions and real-time bus location tracking via the SPOT web and mobile app, with no proprietary AI/ML systems in use.

CCNO's revenue model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial. Primary revenue streams include federal programs (LIHEAP, Older Americans Act, USDA commodities, HUD), Oregon's Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) for transit, donations and local contributions, and small fee-for-service components (intercity transit fares, suggested meal-site donations, conference room rental at the Transit Hub). Service delivery is community-led: clients access programs through four physical community centers, county-specific online intake forms, partner referrals (ADRC, OHP, VA, healthcare brokers), and free online workshops in homebuying education and financial empowerment. Core customer segments are low-income individuals and families, seniors aged 60+, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and housing-insecure households, with primary partnerships spanning HUD, OHCS, ODOT, the VA, Oregon Health Plan, Oregon Food Bank, GOBHI, and ADRC.

Name

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon

Legal name

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Inc.

Website

https://ccno.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Area Agency on Aging delivering housing, energy, food, transit, and senior services across four rural Oregon counties (Union, Baker, Wallowa, Grant), serving low-income households, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities through federal, state, and local funding streams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and Community Services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Food Services (62421), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Community Resources, Social Services & Transportation Coordination (HLADALAK), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Community action programs
• Housing assistance services
• Senior nutrition programs
• Energy assistance LIHEAP
• Rural public transit

Headquarters

HQ city

La Grande

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Federal Programs: CCNO receives funding from federal programs including LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), Older Americans Act for senior nutrition, and other state and federal grants for housing, weatherization, and community development.
2. Donations and Contributions: The organization accepts charitable donations from individuals and businesses. Community engagement report states that 80% of food and funding comes from local donors.
3. Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF): Public transit services are funded through Oregon's Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund, established by HB2017, which provides dedicated funding for expanding public transportation services.
4. USDA Food Commodities: The Regional Food Bank distributes USDA inspected meat, non-perishable food items, and fresh produce received through federal food assistance programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers wraparound social services across four Oregon counties. Core offerings include energy and rental assistance, emergency housing, foreclosure counseling, homeownership and down payment assistance, a regional food bank, in-home caregivers, senior meal sites, public transit, weatherization, and free financial and homebuying workshops.

Product overview

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon is a nonprofit community services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected social service programs across Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Grant counties in Oregon. The organization serves as an Area Agency on Aging and HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Programs include Emergency Housing and Rental Assistance for homelessness prevention; Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) and Housing Weatherization for utility cost reduction; Housing Rehabilitation and the IDA Initiative for homeownership support; Public Transit services across multiple counties with real-time tracking; a Regional Food Bank operating 18 pantries and 11 Harvest Share sites; In-Home Care (OPI and VA) and Family Caregiver Support for elderly and disabled individuals; Meal Sites and Home-Delivered Meals for senior nutrition; Workshops including homebuying education and financial empowerment courses; and Foreclosure Avoidance counseling. The organization also provides Senior Services, Veteran Programs, and access to medical equipment lending.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Housing Provides rent, motel, utility, and security deposit assistance to prevent evictions and utility shut-offs, establish permanent housing, and provide emergency lodging for households at imminent risk of homelessness.
• Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program providing one-time annual subsidies to help low-income households meet heating needs regardless of heat source.
• In-Home Care (OPI and VA) Oregon Project Independence and VA programs providing in-home supervision, mobility assistance, grooming, meal preparation, shopping, and respite care for elderly and individuals with Alzheimer's.
• Regional Food Bank Distributes food across Union, Baker, Grant, and Wallowa counties through 18 food pantries and 11 Harvest Share sites, moving 1.1 million pounds of food annually.
• Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling HUD-approved free counseling services for struggling homeowners to help keep homes and avoid foreclosure through resolution conferences and intervention.
• Homeownership and Down Payment Assistance HUD-approved housing counseling and down payment assistance programs including up to $20,000 in interest-free loans for first-time homebuyers.
• Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program Interest-free loan program for low and moderate-income homeowners to address health, safety, and maintenance issues including plumbing, electrical, structural repair, roofing, and HVAC.
• IDA Initiative (Matched Savings) Individual Development Account offering 5-to-1 matched savings for home purchases, rental housing, and vehicle purchases, paired with financial management education.
• Public Transit Services Public transportation services across Union, Baker, and Wallowa counties including deviated fixed routes, dial-a-ride, medical transportation, and intercity connections.
• Rental Assistance Temporary rental assistance to help renters avoid eviction, with payments issued directly to landlords for homeless or at-risk households.
• Senior Services (Area Agency on Aging) Area Agency on Aging services including meal sites, medical transport, tax aid, legal assistance, telephone reassurance, options counseling, recreational activities, and medical equipment lending.
• Housing Weatherization Free energy efficiency upgrades through insulation, duct sealing, and other measures for eligible households to reduce energy consumption and costs.
• Home-Delivered Meals Meals delivered to homebound seniors and disabled individuals to maintain independence and allow clients to remain in their own homes.
• Meal Sites and Senior Nutrition Community lunch programs served up to five days a week at community centers, providing nutritious meals and social interaction opportunities.
• Homebuying and Financial Empowerment Workshops Free online homebuying education workshops and financial empowerment courses teaching budgeting, credit improvement, banking, investments, retirement strategies, and homeownership skills.
• Family Caregiver Support Support services for caregivers including respite care, information assistance, home modifications, adaptive aids, and training programs.
• Veteran Programs Comprehensive services for veterans including in-home caregivers, rent and utility assistance, down payment assistance, housing rehabilitation, weatherization, and medical transportation.
• Food Pantries Community-based food distribution providing 3-5 days worth of food to individuals and families in need across Baker and Wallowa counties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Moved 1.1 million pounds of food annually through the Regional Food Bank
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Connection)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCNO is a proud member of ADRC, providing a connection to the statewide network of aging and disability resources. ADRC offers a helpline (1-855-673-2372) connecting individuals to CCNO services.
• Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHCS provides down payment assistance programs that CCNO helps administer as a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. CCNO offers homeownership education required for OHCS programs.
• HUD (Housing and Urban Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCNO is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency and was designated a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) by HUD in March 1993. This designation allows CCNO to participate in federal housing programs.
• Oregon Law Center and Oregon Legal AidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCNO contracts with Oregon Law Center and Oregon Legal Aid to provide legal counseling services to seniors 60 years of age and older on a referral basis.
• Oregon Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Northeast Oregon Regional Food Bank is a service of CCNO and receives food through the Oregon Food Bank network. CCNO distributes food across four counties through 18 food pantries and 11 Harvest Share sites.
• Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerODOT administers the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) from which CCNO receives transit funding through HB2017. ODOT provides technical assistance and administers statewide transit programs.
• Local Healthcare Providers and HospitalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCCNO provides medical transportation services connecting patients to healthcare facilities across the region through partnerships with regional medical brokers.
• Local Businesses and Grocery StoresminorOthersLocal donors contribute USDA inspected meat, non-perishable food items, fresh produce, cleaning products, personal care items, and funding. 80% of food and funding comes from local donors.
• Framework HomeownershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCNO promotes Framework's HUD-approved online home buying classes as an alternative when participants cannot attend CCNO's free workshops in person.
• Eastern Oregon UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEastern Oregon University has a designated seat on the Union County Public Transit Advisory Council, contributing to transportation planning.
• Oregon Health Plan (OHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHP provides free medical transportation to covered services for members. CCNO connects clients to this benefit through their medical transportation coordination services.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCNO provides in-home caregiver services for VA clients through the Veterans-Directed Care program and coordinates free medical rides for veterans through the Highly Rural Veterans Transportation program.
• GOBHI (Greater Oregon Behavioral Health)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOBHI serves as the regional medical broker for some transportation services, coordinating rides for covered services under Oregon Health Plan.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oregon Food Bank: Statewide food bank network that supplies CCNO's Northeast Oregon Regional Food Bank. Operates as a sourcing and aggregator partner rather than a competitor, but reflects a comparable food-distribution scale and funding base that benchmarks CCNO's regional food bank model.
• Community Action Program East Central Oregon (CAPECO): Adjacent Oregon Community Action Agency serving Gilliam, Grant (overlap), Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler counties. Operates the same federal anti-poverty program mix (LIHEAP, food bank, housing, Head Start) under the same CAP designation, making it the most structurally comparable peer.
• Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC): Oregon CAP serving Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties. Provides housing counseling, energy assistance, food bank, senior services and transit under the same federal program structure as CCNO, making it a same-state peer on program mix and rural service model.
• NeighborImpact (Central Oregon): Community action agency serving Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson counties with an integrated portfolio of food bank, housing assistance, energy programs, senior services, and Head Start - nearly identical program architecture to CCNO with comparable scale.
• Harney County Senior and Community Services Center: Small Oregon senior center in a similarly rural county offering congregate meals, transportation, in-home services and information/referral - comparable as a single-county rural community services hub rather than as a multi-county agency.

Broad incumbents

• Community Action Partnership (National): National association of more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies including CCNO. Useful for benchmark comparisons on program mix, federal funding advocacy and operational best practices across the rural CAP network.
• Meals on Wheels America: National umbrella organization supporting senior nutrition programs including CCNO's home-delivered meals and congregate meal sites. Same program mission and federal funding source (Older Americans Act), but operates as a national network rather than a regional service provider.

Regional players

• Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS): State housing finance agency that channels down payment assistance and housing counseling programs through HUD-approved intermediaries like CCNO. Acts as a funder/partner rather than a competitor, but defines the regulatory framework in which CCNO's housing programs operate.

Others

• Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) of Oregon: Statewide information and access network for aging and disability services of which CCNO is a partner. Comparable as a senior-services access point, though it lacks direct service delivery.
• Community Action Partnership of Oregon: State association representing Oregon's network of Community Action Agencies including CCNO. Not a direct service competitor, but a coordinating body whose priorities, advocacy, and funding relationships directly shape CCNO's operating environment and grant pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityConnectionNEO
• Instagraminstagram.com/ccnoregon

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 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 Community Connection of Northeast Oregon