Metro Work Center

What Metro Work Center does

Metro Work Center, Inc. is a Minnesota-incorporated nonprofit organization founded in 1968 that provides employment opportunities, life skill development support, community integration programming, and leisure and recreation activities to adults with developmental disabilities. The organization operates from a single facility at 2730 East 31st Street in South Minneapolis and serves nearly 60 adults, with participant ages ranging from their 20s to 70s and commuting from across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Its service model is structured around five core offerings: the Employment First Program (matching participants to community-based or in-house jobs with tiered job-coach support), Life Skill Development Support (delivered through Men's, Women's, and Health and Fitness clubs), Community Participation (travel training and neighborhood outings), Recreation Activities (arts, crafts, music, sports, outings), and Transportation coordination via Metro Mobility.

The underlying "technology" of Metro Work Center is a person-centered individual-assessment process: each participant's interests and goals are documented and reviewed annually with family members, guardians, social workers, case managers, and other professionals, producing customized outcomes and an Individualized Abuse Prevention Plan. The Employment First Program extends this into vocational matching, with productivity reviewed every six months and pay increases tied to skill development. There is no proprietary software platform; operational technology consists of standard website, phone-based intake, and Facebook communications.

Metro Work Center generates revenue primarily through county-authorized service rates funded by Minnesota Department of Human Services programs, with rates and service days per participant set by county case managers under 245D requirements. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and individual funding varies by assessed needs. Supplemental revenue comes from individual and organizational donations accepted via check, the GiveMN platform, and Amazon Smile, plus in-kind contributions of goods and services. Customer acquisition is referral-driven through agencies, residences, support professionals, and county case managers, while employer partnerships for community-based employment are developed through direct outbound outreach by the Employment Manager.

Name

Metro Work Center

Legal name

Metro Work Center, Inc.

Website

https://metroworkcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Metro Work Center, Inc. is a Minneapolis nonprofit founded in 1968 that provides person-centered employment, life skills, community integration, and recreation services to nearly 60 adults with developmental disabilities, funded primarily through Minnesota DHS-authorized rates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Developmental Disability Day and Supported Employment Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Recreational Outings, Community Participation & Mobility Support (Non-Clinical) (HSABAAAI)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Supported employment programs
• Life skills training
• Community integration services
• Disability day programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Services: Services funded through Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) programs, with county case managers authorizing rates and days for individual participants. The organization receives payment based on approved rates for each person served.
2. Donations: Individual and organizational donations accepted via check or online through GiveMN platform. In-kind contributions of goods and services also solicited.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Metro Work Center provides person-centered day and vocational services for adults with developmental disabilities from a single South Minneapolis facility. Its core offerings include the Employment First Program (community-based, enclave, and in-house jobs with job coach support), Life Skill Development Support (clubs and training in health, hygiene, communication, cooking, cleaning, and transportation), Community Participation (travel training and neighborhood outings), and Recreation Activities (arts/crafts, music, sports, bowling, seasonal events). All services operate on a person-centered individual-assessment basis with annual reviews involving the participant, family, guardians, social workers, and case managers.

Product overview

Metro Work Center is a single-site human services organization offering an integrated program of five core services to adults with developmental disabilities. The Employment First Program provides vocational opportunities ranging from community-based employment to in-house work, supported by job coaches and regular productivity reviews. Life Skill Development Support uses a club structure to build independence in health, hygiene, communication, and daily living skills. Community Participation maximizes engagement through travel training and neighborhood integration. Recreation Activities offer leisure programming including Breakout sessions, fitness activities, and community outings. Transportation Services coordinate Metro Mobility and public transit access. All services operate on a person-centered, individual-assessment basis with annual progress reviews and customized outcomes planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employment First Program Vocational program matching adults with developmental disabilities to employment opportunities, ranging from independent community-based employment to supported employment with on-site job coaches, including enclave work sites of 2-4 workers and in-house employment options. Job productivity is reviewed every six months with pay increases as skills grow.
• Community Participation Services designed to maximize engagement with the broader community through travel training, neighborhood outings, and volunteer opportunities. Located near shops, stores, bus and light rail lines for accessibility.
• Recreation Activities Leisure and recreation programming including Breakout sessions with arts/crafts, music, games, outings, sports, seasonal parties, and fitness activities. Features an on-site gym, music classes, and community outings to bowling, zoos, and sporting events.
• Life Skill Development Support Programming focused on developing independent living skills including health and hygiene, communication skills, social interaction, cooking, cleaning, and transportation skills through structured clubs (Men's, Women's, Health and Fitness) and individual assessments.
• Transportation Coordination Services Transportation coordination provided through Metro Mobility for travel to and from the facility and worksites, supplemented by public transit for community activities and outings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves nearly 60 adults with developmental disabilities across metro area
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered historical core, core and minor.

• Holy Trinity Lutheran Churchhistorical coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1965Original founding partner that opened Friendship Center in 1965 to provide arts and crafts program for teenagers refused public schooling. Provided facilities and janitorial services. The two programs merged in 1968 to form Day Activity Centers of Minneapolis, Inc. (later Metro Work Center, Inc.). MWC still operates from this location.
• Open-Door Center at Our Savior's Lutheran Churchhistorical coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1965Partnered with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in 1965 to provide services to children with developmental disabilities. Programs merged with Holy Trinity's program in 1968 to form Day Activity Centers of Minneapolis, Inc.
• Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS)coreOthersState agency that provides regulatory oversight, support services, and resource guidance to individuals with disabilities. DHS programs fund Metro Work Center's services through authorized rates and county coordination.
• Metro MobilitycoreOthersTransportation service provider for Metro Work Center participants. Provides transportation to and from the facility and to work sites, coordinating with participants' residences.
• East Lake Public LibraryminorOthersLocated next door to Metro Work Center facility. Popular destination for participants; renovated library provides accessible community resource.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Chimes International: National nonprofit supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through vocational, residential, and day services. Comparable Employment First-style community employment programming.
• SourceAmerica: National nonprofit organization that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through a large affiliated provider network. Comparable mission of competitive integrated employment, though at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• Melwood: Large Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing employment, day services, and recreation for people with developmental disabilities. Comparable service mix including community-based employment and life-skill programming.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit offering employment, day services, and community participation programs for people with disabilities. Overlapping service categories though broader in mission and geographic footprint.
• AHRC New York City: Large nonprofit providing day habilitation, employment, and recreational services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable program mix though operating at much greater scale in a different metro.

Regional players

• Bona Vista Programs: Indiana-based nonprofit providing employment, day services, and community living supports for people with disabilities. Comparable person-centered, county-authorized service model in a different U.S. region.

Direct peers

• Rise, Inc. Minnesota-headquartered nonprofit providing employment services, day programs, and residential supports to people with disabilities. Operates community-based employment placement similar to Metro Work Center's employer network.
• Opportunity Partners: Minnesota-based nonprofit providing employment, day services, and residential supports to people with disabilities. Highly comparable to Metro Work Center in mission, services, and geography, including community-based employment placement.
• MRCI (Manpower Resources for Cultural Industries): Minnesota-based nonprofit offering vocational rehabilitation, community employment, and day services for people with disabilities. Directly comparable Employment First model and government-funded service delivery.
• Merrick, Inc. Minnesota-based nonprofit offering vocational training, community employment, and day programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Closely matches Metro Work Center's Employment First and life-skill services model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MetroWorkCenter
• Xx.com/metroworkcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metro-work-center-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Metro Work Center