Employment Links - A Support Agency

What Employment Links - A Support Agency does

Employment Links is a privately held support agency headquartered at 205 W 2nd St, Suite 203, Duluth, Minnesota, providing person-centered employment and home- and community-based services to adults with disabilities in Duluth and the surrounding northeastern Minnesota region. Founded approximately in 1994 and operating for more than 30 years, the agency delivers a defined suite of services — Employment Exploration, Employment Development, Employment Support, Individualized Home Supports (IHS) with and without Training, Independent Living Skills, and Professional Development Groups — all governed by individualized Support Plans developed in collaboration with clients, families, case managers, employers, and community partners.

The business model is a managed services arrangement funded entirely through Minnesota Department of Human Services home and community-based service waiver programs, with revenue generated by authorized service hours billed to county funding agencies and Medicaid waiver programs. Client acquisition is referral-driven via county case managers, social workers, families, and the agency's online Service Referral Form; there is no disclosed pricing to end users because access is controlled by state authorization. The agency holds CARF international accreditation and operates a HIPAA-compliant privacy and security framework including a designated Privacy Officer and annual staff training, reflecting the regulatory prerequisites for delivering DHS-billable services.

The organization operates with a small employed team of approximately 9 staff under Senior Director Lynne Larson, maintains a single Duluth office, and reports no proprietary technology platform, API, or digital product. Distribution is exclusively community-based — services are delivered in integrated employment settings, client homes, and community locations — with supporting referral channels including the agency's website, a Facebook presence, partnerships with the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and Rotary International, and a network of local employers that provide integrated employment opportunities for clients.

Name

Employment Links - A Support Agency

Legal name

Employment Links

Website

https://employlinksduluth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Employment Links is a privately held Duluth, Minnesota-based support agency providing person-centered employment and home-based services to adults with disabilities, funded through Minnesota DHS HCBS waiver programs and delivered via individualized Support Plans in partnership with county case managers and local employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Supported Employment & Job Coaching (EDAKANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

Keywords

• Disability employment services
• Vocational rehabilitation support
• Community-based employment
• Home and community supports
• Job coaching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Funding: Services are authorized through Minnesota Department of Human Services home and community-based service waiver programs. Revenue is derived from authorized service hours delivered to clients, billed to county funding agencies and Medicaid waiver programs. Services include Employment Exploration, Employment Development, Employment Support, and Individualized Home Supports (IHS) with and without Training.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Employment Links provides person-centered employment and individualized home and community-based support services for adults with disabilities in Duluth, Minnesota and surrounding communities. Its core employment services include Employment Exploration (career assessments, job shadowing, informational interviews), Employment Development (resume building, interview prep, job search), and Employment Support (on-site coaching, skill reinforcement). It also delivers Individualized Home Supports (with and without Training), Independent Living Skills, and Professional Development Groups, all funded through Minnesota DHS waiver programs.

Product overview

Employment Links is a person-centered employment and community support services agency offering a unified suite of services focused on helping adults with barriers to employment achieve meaningful work and community participation. The organization provides three core employment service modules (Employment Exploration, Employment Development, and Employment Support) that work together to guide clients from initial career discovery through job acquisition and ongoing employment retention. Complementing the employment services are Individualized Home Supports (IHS) with and without Training, Independent Living Skills, and Professional Development Groups. All services are delivered through individualized Support Plans in collaboration with case managers, families, employers, and community partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employment Exploration Community-based service introducing clients to employment options and career pathways through job shadowing, informational interviews, career assessments, and hands-on work experiences to support informed choice about competitive, integrated employment. Targeted at adults with disabilities in Duluth and surrounding communities.
• Employment Development Individualized service assisting clients in securing competitive, integrated employment or pursuing self-employment, including resume development, interview preparation, job search assistance, and employer outreach. Targeted at adults with disabilities in Duluth and surrounding communities.
• Employment Support Ongoing support service helping clients maintain and succeed in employment through individualized on-site coaching, skill reinforcement, communication support, and collaboration with employers to promote stability and growth. Targeted at adults with disabilities in integrated employment settings in Duluth and surrounding communities.
• Individualized Home Supports (IHS) with Training Skill-building service promoting independence in daily living, community participation, and employment readiness by developing abilities that increase long-term independence. Authorized through Minnesota DHS home and community-based service waiver programs and delivered per the client's Support Plan.
• Individualized Home Supports (IHS) without Training Support service assisting clients in maintaining stability and independence within their home and community environments according to their Support Plan. Authorized through Minnesota DHS home and community-based service waiver programs.
• Independent Living Skills Support in developing daily living skills, decision-making abilities, and personal responsibility at home and in the community. Targeted at adults with disabilities receiving Employment Links services in Duluth and surrounding communities.
• Professional Development Groups Small-group sessions focused on workplace readiness, communication, problem-solving, and community participation, with rotating structured topics designed to strengthen employment outcomes and independence. Targeted at adults with disabilities served by Employment Links.

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Duluth Area Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Links maintains membership and partnership with the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, using their logo on the website partner section. This partnership provides community visibility and networking opportunities within the local business community.
• CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARF accreditation is referenced in the partner logos section. CARF provides international accreditation for health and human services organizations, demonstrating that Employment Links meets internationally recognized standards for quality and continuous improvement in rehabilitation and employment services.
• Rotary InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotary International is referenced in the partner logos section alongside CARF. This indicates a community partnership that may support the organization's mission of community connection and inclusion.
• Local EmployerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Links maintains strong partnerships with local employers to create opportunities for clients in integrated employment settings. The agency conducts employer outreach and collaborates with employers for job placement and ongoing support.
• Community OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with community organizations to create opportunities that promote independence, inclusion, and long-term success. The agency collaborates with various community partners to support client employment and community participation goals.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Ability Beyond: Northeast U.S. provider of employment, residential, and community support services for individuals with disabilities. Comparable service portfolio (job coaching, supported employment, HCBS waiver services) but operates on a different regional footprint.

Emerging players

• Beacon Group: Provides employment, vocational, and community-based services for people with disabilities in the Midwest. Comparable service mix and HCBS waiver model, though focused on a different geographic region than Employment Links.

Broad incumbents

• Merakey: National human services provider offering employment services, behavioral health, and community living supports for individuals with disabilities. Directly comparable in HCBS waiver service lines and job coaching offerings, but operates across multiple states.
• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit with extensive employment and training programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Comparable in core mission of workforce integration, though operates at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing employment, housing, and community-based services for people with disabilities. Operates under similar HCBS waiver and vocational rehabilitation frameworks; compares to Employment Links in service categories but at much larger scale.
• HiawathaCare (LSS of Minnesota - HiawathaCare): Disability services division of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, providing employment, independent living, and community-based supports statewide. Comparable services but operates at significantly larger scale with broader geographic reach.

Others

• Carf International: Accrediting body for rehabilitation and human services providers referenced as a partner by Employment Links. Not a direct competitor but an enabling industry infrastructure player that defines quality standards for the agency's competitive market.

Direct peers

• Rise, Inc. Minnesota disability services nonprofit offering employment services, vocational training, and community living supports. Operates under similar DHS waiver programs and CARF standards, serving overlapping client populations in northern Minnesota.
• Opportunity Partners: Minnesota-based nonprofit providing employment services, community-based supports, and day services for people with disabilities. Highly comparable to Employment Links in service mix (employment exploration, development, support) and Minnesota HCBS waiver funding model.
• MRCI (Minnesota River Communities Inc.): Minnesota provider of employment and community living services for people with disabilities. Comparable service portfolio (vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, integrated community supports) and similar reliance on HCBS waiver funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/employmentlinksduluth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/employment-links-a-support-agency

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Employment Links - A Support Agency