Bakersfield ARC (formerly BARC)

What Bakersfield ARC (formerly BARC) does

Bakersfield ARC is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1949 (formerly BARC, rebranded in 2023 around its 75th anniversary) that delivers employment, day, and community-integration services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Headquartered at 4500 California Ave, Bakersfield, the organization serves Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties through a continuum of programs: Access Now (community integration), Tailored Day Services (TDS), the Paid Internship Program (PIP, up to 1,040 hours per year at no cost to employers), Supported Employment in both group-crew and individual placements, and Social Recreation. It employs over 105 staff and serves over 242 IDD clients, with more than 117 individuals earning wages in supported settings and 36 placed in community employment.

The organization's service delivery is human-intensive rather than technology-driven: there is no proprietary software platform, and operations rely on staff-led case management supported by an online client file system. Bakersfield ARC holds CARF International accreditation and Title VI compliance, and has maintained a 15+ year contract with Cal-Trans for I-5 Tejon Pass rest-area maintenance in addition to janitorial and grounds contracts with regional employers including RainforRent, GET Bus, Sill Properties, and Keep Bakersfield Beautiful.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: Kern Regional Center service contracts (the dominant funding mechanism, since all clients must be Regional Center enrollees), individual donations and the ARChitects $50/month recurring giving program, annual fundraising events (golf tournament, clay shoot, 'A Night for Bakersfield ARC'), and — since March 2025 — the Riverfront Manor wedding and event venue on the Kern River. Contract revenue from janitorial and grounds work is reinvested into IDD services. Leadership is held by President and CEO Shawn Kennemer, succeeding Jim Baldwin, with senior program leads Jaime L. Valdez, Jr. (Senior Director of Job Development) and Sergio Soto (Contract Manager) driving employer relationships.

Name

Bakersfield ARC (formerly BARC)

Legal name

Bakersfield ARC

Website

https://bakersfieldarc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bakersfield ARC is a California nonprofit, founded 1949, that provides job training, supported and competitive employment, paid internships, and community integration services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD)

Keywords

• Disability employment services
• Vocational training programs
• Supported employment services
• Developmental disability support
• Community integration programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bakersfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Kern Regional Center Service Contracts: Revenue from contracts with Kern Regional Center for providing employment services, day programs, and support services to adults with IDD. Contracted services include janitorial and grounds maintenance, with revenue reinvested in other activities serving people with IDD such as mobility, independent living skills, social recreation, advocacy and family support.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors, monthly ARChitect donors ($50/month), and corporate sponsors. The Essential Needs Fund provides financial assistance to individuals with IDD for gas for work, work uniforms, unexpected bills, childcare costs, and health & nutrition.
3. Riverfront Manor Venue Rental: Event venue rental income from Riverfront Manor, a wedding and events venue along the Kern River with capacity up to 200 guests and on-site AirBnB. Launched March 2025.
4. Fundraising Events: Revenue from annual events including golf tournament, clay shoot, and 'A Night for Bakersfield ARC' fundraising events. Proceeds fund programs including Gardens at Riverfront Manor, Tailored Day Services, Access Now, Supported Employment, and paid internships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bakersfield ARC is a non-profit organization providing job training, employment, and support services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties. Its core offerings are a continuum of programs — Access Now, Tailored Day Services, Paid Internship Program, Supported Employment (group and individual), and Social Recreation — delivered through Kern Regional Center contracts and supported by donated funding. The organization also runs Riverfront Manor, a wedding and event venue whose revenue is reinvested into IDD services.

Product overview

Bakersfield ARC operates as a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The core programs include Access Now (community integration), Tailored Day Services (TDS - customized day services), Paid Internship Program (PIP), Supported Employment (Group and Individual), and Social Recreation. These programs work together as a continuum of support: clients enter through Access Now for basic community integration, progress to Tailored Day Services for skill development, participate in Paid Internships for real-world work experience, and transition to Supported Employment for competitive integrated employment. HCBS Final Rule Bootcamp and Dr. Thomas Pomeranz Training Series provide professional development for disability service providers. Riverfront Manor is a social enterprise wedding venue generating revenue to fund operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ARChitects: A donor program where monthly donors contribute $50 to help build futures for individuals with IDD by removing financial barriers.
• Essential Needs Fund
• The Gardens at Riverfront Manor
• Riverfront Manor

Products and services

• Access Now Program A 100% community integration program that allows adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to engage in meaningful community activities, developing community integration, independent living, and vocational skills through volunteerism, health and wellness, daily living skills, recreational activities, and vocational skills building.
• Tailored Day Services (TDS) Customized day services designed to maximize individual needs and personal choice through individualized services. Provides opportunities for employment development, independent social recreation, interview training, mobility training, money management, paid internships, post-secondary education, resume creation, self-advocacy, self-care, and volunteer opportunities for adults with IDD.
• Paid Internship Program (PIP) An extension of Tailored Day Services that gives individuals with IDD the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to obtain Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) in their preferred field. Maximum 1,040 hours per year per intern at no cost to employers; Bakersfield ARC supplies a job coach and Fiscal Management Services handles payroll.
• Supported Employment - Group & Individual Partnerships with businesses providing work opportunities for adults with IDD in group settings and individual placements. Services include janitorial, maintenance, grounds maintenance, event clean up, and day porter site services. Job coaches provided and paid by Bakersfield ARC; workers' compensation and liability covered.
• Social Recreation Program A structured and supportive community-inclusive environment offering age-appropriate and choice-driven recreational activities for adults with IDD. Provides increased access to the community in small group settings of up to 10 participants, including volunteer opportunities and community engagement activities.
• HCBS Final Rule Bootcamp A five-part webinar series with follow-up community of practice sessions for implementing best practices and applying strategies for HCBS Final Rule compliance. Includes tracks for residential providers and day services/employment providers, with technical assistance available.
• Dr. Thomas Pomeranz Training Series A six-part training series by Dr. Thomas Pomeranz on enhancing quality of life for people with disabilities, covering HCBS Final Rule training, Good Enough for Me (GEM) methodology, and disability services best practices.
• Riverfront Manor Venue Rental A wedding and event venue along the Kern River accommodating up to 200 guests, featuring an on-site AirBnB. Available for weddings, showers, reunions, and other events, with revenue supporting Bakersfield ARC programs for individuals with IDD.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 242 adults with IDD served
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kern Regional CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1949Primary referral and funding partner for services to adults with IDD. Kern Regional Center authorizes and funds programs including Tailored Day Services, Supported Employment, and Social Recreation. Must be Kern Regional Center Client to access services. Partnership enables service delivery to over 242 adults with IDD annually.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of California: Statewide chapter of The Arc network serving individuals with IDD through employment, housing, and advocacy. Most direct organizational peer, as Bakersfield ARC itself operates as a local Arc chapter.
• AbilityPath: California nonprofit providing disability services including adult day programs, employment support, and life-skills training. Highly comparable service mix targeting IDD adults through regional center funding.
• ServiceSource: National nonprofit providing employment, training, and community engagement for people with disabilities. Comparable operating model with strong focus on supported employment and vocational services.
• HOPE Services: California-based nonprofit serving individuals with developmental disabilities through employment programs, day services, and community integration. Operates in adjacent California geography with similar mission-aligned revenue model.
• UCP of California (Cerebral Palsy Alliance): Statewide nonprofit serving individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities through employment, residential, and day programs. Comparable IDD-focused service portfolio and California regional center funding model.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit disability services organization providing employment, day services, and community integration for individuals with disabilities. Direct operational peer to Bakersfield ARC across multiple service lines.
• PRIDE Industries: National nonprofit social enterprise providing integrated employment, facility services, and janitorial/grounds crews staffed largely by individuals with disabilities. Highly relevant to Bakersfield ARC's Supported Employment work-crew model.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: Nonprofit focused on creating employment opportunities and friendships for individuals with IDD. Comparable employment-placement mission, though primarily volunteer-led rather than regional-center-funded.

Regional players

• Life Services Alternatives: California nonprofit providing adult day services, supported employment, and community integration for individuals with developmental disabilities. Comparable service mix, Northern California geography.

Broad incumbents

• California Department of Rehabilitation: State agency administering vocational rehabilitation and employment services for people with disabilities. Adjacent funder/oversight entity whose policies directly shape Bakersfield ARC's employment programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bakersfield-arc-formerly-barc-

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 Bakersfield ARC (formerly BARC)