Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization

What Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization does

Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization (ILCAO) is a private nonprofit social services agency founded in 1965 in Ironton, Ohio, operating as a designated Community Action Organization under federal and state anti-poverty programs. Its mission is to measurably improve the well-being of Lawrence County residents through a comprehensive portfolio of 12 service departments spanning healthcare (Family Medical Centers with Joint Commission accreditation), affordable housing (274 apartments across multiple LIHTC and HUD-financed properties), early childhood education (11 Head Start/Early Childhood Academy sites all rated 5-star by Ohio), nutrition assistance (WIC, HEAP, food pantry distributions), workforce development (OhioMeansJobs One-Stop Center), senior services, transportation, home weatherization, and homeless services (Healthcare for the Homeless, rapid re-housing, transitional and permanent supportive housing). The organization employs over 400 staff and serves nearly 40,000 individuals annually across the Ohio-Kentucky-West Virginia tri-state area.

ILCAO operates a One-Stop Center hub-and-spoke delivery model: clients enter at 120 N 3rd Street, Ironton, and are routed through case managers into the appropriate department or partner program. The organization has no proprietary software platform or technology product; delivery is conducted through in-person case management, fixed-location facilities, mobile/outreach services, and a public transit network (TTA/OVC Express routes plus demand-response vans) administered on contract for the Lawrence County Port Authority. Funding is overwhelmingly derived from government grants and contracts — including CSBG, HUD, HEAP/ODJFS, USDA, Ohio Department of Health WIC, Federal Transit Administration, ARC INSPIRE, and LIHTC — supplemented by Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement at the Family Medical Centers, income-based rental revenue across 274 housing units, and select corporate/community partnerships (United Way, Amazon, CareSource, PIRHL). Pricing is non-market for most services (free to income-eligible residents under federal poverty guidelines) and income-based for housing rents.

The business model is essentially a pass-through social services contract operator: ILCAO captures administrative fees and direct-service revenue from government payers in exchange for program delivery against regulatory compliance requirements (Joint Commission, NAEYC, Ohio Step Up to Quality 5-star, HUD/OCCH/OHFA monitoring). Strategic partners include United Way and Amazon (homeless and workforce services, 2023), PIRHL (Proctor's Landing senior housing), CareSource (managed-care on-site), Facing Hunger Foodbank and Ohio Food Bank Association (food distribution), Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OH•ZONE career fairs), and Lawrence County Public Libraries (youth eye exams). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors meeting monthly and led by CEO D.R. Gossett alongside a C-suite including COO Harry Cain, CSSO Cindy Anderson, and CHRO Mackenzie Coakley.

Name

Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization

Legal name

Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization

Website

https://ilcao.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization (ILCAO) is a 1965-founded nonprofit administering 12 anti-poverty service departments — healthcare, housing, Head Start, WIC, HEAP, workforce, transit, and senior services — for Lawrence County, Ohio residents under federal and state government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Administration of Public Health Programs (923120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI), Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB), Independent Living Community Ancillary Services (Dining/Transportation/Wellness Programs) (HLADAAAI)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Affordable housing programs
• Early childhood education
• Workforce development services
• Energy assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ironton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary funding from federal and state government grants including Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), HUD funding, Ohio Department of Health grants, and various poverty assistance programs.
2. Healthcare Services Reimbursement: Family Medical Centers generate revenue through Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement and other healthcare billing for medical, dental, and behavioral health services.
3. Housing Rental Income: 274 apartments operated under federal income-based rental model generate rental income from tenants whose fees are determined by income level.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ILCAO is a non-profit Community Action Organization delivering a comprehensive portfolio of social services to low-income residents of Lawrence County, Ohio. It operates 12 service departments spanning healthcare (Family Medical Centers), affordable housing, energy assistance (HEAP, Home Weatherization), workforce development (OhioMeansJobs One-Stop Center), early childhood education (Head Start), nutrition (WIC), senior services, public transportation, and homeless services. Services are funded primarily through federal and state government grants and delivered across multiple fixed locations serving nearly 40,000 individuals annually in the OH-KY-WV tri-state area.

Product overview

Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization is a non-profit social services agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of community support programs rather than a technology product. The organization provides 12 distinct service departments spanning healthcare (Family Medical Centers), education (Early Childhood Academy/Head Start), housing (Housing Management, Homeless Services), energy assistance (HEAP, Home Weatherization), workforce development (OhioMeansJobs One-Stop Center), nutrition (WIC), senior services, transportation, and community development. Services operate across Lawrence County, Ohio with facilities reaching from Ironton to Proctorville, serving nearly 40,000 individuals in the OH-KY-WV tri-state area annually. The organization does not offer a unified software platform but rather delivers human services through case management, direct assistance, and coordinated referrals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Development Established in 1981, provides economic development, homeless housing assistance, downtown revitalization, parks and recreation, public infrastructure, fair housing agent services, grant writing, and project administration for Lawrence County.
• Community Services Administers the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), providing information, workshops, and referrals to help low-income individuals, including food pantry referrals and fire victims assistance.
• Homeless Services Provides Healthcare for the Homeless, Homeless Housing programs (HCRP, Rapid Re-Housing, Transitional Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing), and Organizational Representative Payee Service (ORP) for managing Social Security benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 40,000 individuals served annually in the OH-KY-WV tri-state area
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CareSourceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 September 2023CareSource representative visits ILCAO monthly to provide information about services and assist clients with healthcare coverage questions.
• United WaycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2023Partnership with United Way and Amazon to positively impact the homeless community in Lawrence County through the One-Stop Center. United Way collaborates on funding and community support for homeless services and workforce development initiatives.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2023Amazon partnership supporting the One-Stop Center and homeless services in Lawrence County through workforce development and community investment programs.
• Facing Hunger FoodbankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 September 2021Monthly mobile food pantry distributions starting May 2021, bringing food assistance to Lawrence County residents through partnership with Facing Hunger Foodbank.
• Briggs Lawrence County Public LibrariesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2021Partnership to provide free youth eye exams, combining library resources with healthcare access for children.
• Ohio Southeast Economic DevelopmentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2021Co-hosted OH•ZONE virtual career fair with OhioMeansJobs Lawrence County and Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action to connect job seekers with employment opportunities.
• National GuardminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Family Medical Centers partnered with the National Guard to provide COVID-19 drive-up testing services for the community.
• Ohio Food Bank AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2020Partnership for USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Distribution program, distributing food boxes to families in need throughout Lawrence County.
• Lawrence County Port AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2007, the Lawrence County Port Authority contracted with ILCAO to administer public transportation services. Governor Strickland designated the Port Authority as recipient of Federal Transit Administration funds for transit startup.
• TTA of Huntington (West Virginia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTTA of Huntington operates fixed bus route system for Lawrence County public transportation including OVC Express routes serving Huntington, Ashland, and Ironton.
• Head Start WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLawrence County Early Childhood Academy/Head Start operates under Head Start Works organization, providing comprehensive early childhood services with facilities across the county.
• Lawrence County Churches and City MissionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal churches and City Mission provide emergency food, clothing, and shelter services, coordinating with ILCAO homeless services.
• PIRHLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIRHL partnered with ILCAO on Proctor's Landing Senior Living development, a 56-unit affordable housing facility for seniors.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gallia-Jackson-Meigs Community Action Agency: Adjacent Ohio Community Action Agency serving Gallia, Jackson, and Meigs counties. Operates similar multi-service CAO model including Head Start, energy assistance, housing, and senior services for Appalachian communities near ILCAO's territory.
• Pike County Community Action Agency: Nearby Southern Ohio CAO serving Pike County with similar Head Start, HEAP, housing, and senior service programs. Same regulatory regime and funding streams (CSBG, ODJFS) make it a near-clone operational peer in the same Appalachian region.
• Community Action Agency of Scioto County: Scioto County, Ohio CAO directly bordering Lawrence County, administering comparable CSBG, HEAP, Head Start, and housing programs. Operates as a direct competitor for regional program funding and a comparable benchmark for Appalachian multi-service CAO delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National faith-based social services network providing emergency assistance, housing, immigration, and family services. Comparable to ILCAO as a multi-service anti-poverty nonprofit with similar service breadth, though operating at vastly larger geographic and program scale.
• Goodwill Industries International: National multi-service nonprofit providing workforce development, job training, and social services across the U.S. Operates at much larger scale than ILCAO but with overlapping service lines (workforce, housing referrals, community programs), serving as a benchmark for nonprofit multi-service delivery.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit providing affordable housing, senior services, behavioral health, and community programs across the U.S. Overlaps with ILCAO on housing management (senior/affordable), homeless services, and senior care - serving as a scaled reference comparable.

Others

• United Way Worldwide: National nonprofit funding and coordinating community services for low-income populations. ILCAO is a United Way partner and grantee; United Way provides a comparative framework for funding aggregation, donor coordination, and multi-service nonprofit governance.
• Appalachian Regional Commission: Federal-state economic development partnership serving the Appalachian region including Ohio. ILCAO received an INSPIRE Grant from ARC; ARC is a key funding source and policy coordinator for the region, making it adjacent rather than competitive to ILCAO.
• National Community Action Partnership: National trade association representing ~1,000 CAOs across the U.S. While not a competitor, it is the industry body that ILCAO belongs to, sets advocacy direction, and coordinates federal funding advocacy relevant to ILCAO's program funding.

Regional players

• Appalachian Community Health Center: Federally Qualified Health Center network serving rural West Virginia with primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy. Comparable to ILCAO's Family Medical Centers in providing rural Appalachian healthcare but operates across the state line in WV rather than competing in OH directly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/irontonlawcao

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization