Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois

What Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois does

The Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois (FCAI) is a membership-based trade association headquartered at 1991 W. Downer Place, Aurora, Illinois. Founded with a mission to serve painting, glazing, and drywall finishing contractors across Illinois, FCAI operates with a 7-employee staff and supports a member network that includes over 100 contractor specialists listed in its public directory, plus separate Contractor and Associate Member categories.

FCAI's product portfolio centers on member services rather than commercial software. Core offerings include educational programs and seminars covering project management, workers' compensation, HR, and job safety; a safety resources library (HAZCOM training, silica exposure programs, editable safety manuals, toolbox talks, Safety Pays Program); compliance guidance on Davis-Bacon/Prevailing Wage, the Corporate Transparency Act, and Illinois-specific labor regulations; industry resources such as the Coatings Technical Advisory Committee and PaintCare Paint Recycling Program; and the Larry Nedrow Scholarship Fund, established in 1992 and disbursing $44,000 to 22 students in 2025. An Association Health Insurance Program was announced in early 2026 following a member feasibility study. The organization also operates a Central Chapter with regional events and an NIPDI division with separate governance.

Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues under a recurring subscription model; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. FCAI's go-to-market is community-led, relying on events (Scholarship Night, Golf Outing), educational programs, partnerships with FCA International, FCA of Chicago, IMSCA, Project First Rate, Corrosion Illinois, and the Tri-Council Development Fund, and a multi-channel outreach mix including Facebook, LinkedIn, Vimeo, email newsletters, and SMS alerts via Constant Contact. As a non-profit trade association, FCAI has no external shareholders, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity on record.

Name

Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois

Legal name

Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois

Website

https://fcaofillinois.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FCAI is a 7-employee Illinois trade association serving painting, glazing, and drywall finishing contractors through membership dues, educational programs, safety compliance resources, scholarship administration, and member networking events across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The association generates revenue through membership fees from Contractor Members and Associate Members. Membership provides access to educational programs, safety resources, legislative updates, and member benefits.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FCAI is a non-profit trade association that delivers educational programs, safety training resources, advocacy, and networking services to painting, glazing, and drywall finishing contractors across Illinois. The association provides membership-based access to seminars on project management, workers' compensation, HR, and job safety; a searchable contractor directory of over 100 specialists; scholarship programs; legislative and regulatory updates; and industry resources. Core membership tiers include Contractor Members and Associate Members, with regional support through a Central Chapter.

Product overview

FCAI is a professional trade association serving painting, glazing, and drywall finishing contractors in Illinois. The organization offers a portfolio of member services including educational programs and seminars covering project management, workers' compensation, human resources, and job safety; comprehensive safety training resources; a searchable contractor directory with over 100 specialists; scholarship programs through the Larry Nedrow Scholarship Fund; industry resources such as the Coatings Technical Advisory Committee and PaintCare Paint Recycling Program; networking events; and an association health insurance program in development. FCAI is structured with a Central Chapter and NIPDI division, providing localized and specialized services to its contractor and associate members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Programs and Seminars Educational programs and seminars covering project management, workers' compensation, human resources issues, and job safety, offered to FCAI members.
• Safety Training and Resources Comprehensive safety services including compliance assistance, editable safety manual, HAZCOM training, Safety Pays Program, safety videos, silica exposure programs, small business handbook, toolbox talks, and union training for member contractors.
• Contractor Directory Public searchable database of over 100 contractor specialists in the state of Illinois for finding qualified finishing contractors.
• Scholarship Program (Larry Nedrow Scholarship Fund) Scholarship fund established in 1992 supporting educational development within the finishing trades industry, with $44,000 awarded to 22 local students in 2025.
• Industry Resources and Publications Resources including Coatings Technical Advisory Committee, PaintCare Paint Recycling Program, legislative news, awards and scholarships, industry specifications, publications, union information, and policies and documents for members.
• Events and Networking Association events including Central Chapter Scholarship Night, golf outings, and other networking opportunities for members.
• Health Insurance Program (in development) Association health insurance program being developed to provide comparable coverage options for members, based on a feasibility study conducted.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FCA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation of finishing contractors associations providing global industry standards, advocacy, and networking opportunities across national boundaries.
• FCA of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter association serving the Chicago metropolitan area, providing local representation and member services for finishing contractors in the greater Chicago region.
• IMSCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois Mechanical and Specialty Contractor's Association partnership for industry collaboration and shared resources.
• Corrosion IllinoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership for corrosion-related issues affecting finishing contractors in Illinois.
• Project First RateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuality and performance rating partnership providing contractor certification and quality standards.
• Tri-Council Development FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor-management partnership fund supporting training and development programs for the finishing trades workforce in Illinois.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA): National trade association for painting and decorating contractors offering education, certification, and advocacy. Directly comparable to FCAI's painting segment and serves an overlapping contractor base with similar member-benefit offerings.
• Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI): National trade association representing contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers in the wall and ceiling industry, including drywall finishing. Closely aligned with FCAI's drywall finishing contractor membership and education/safety programming.
• FCA International: International federation of finishing contractor associations providing national standards, advocacy, and networking across chapters. It is the parent-level counterpart that FCAI partners with directly, and any peer trade-association comparison should be benchmarked against it.
• Illinois Mechanical and Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA): Illinois-based association for mechanical and specialty contractors with whom FCAI maintains a partnership. Operates in the same state, overlapping member segments (specialty trade contractors), and shares legislative and compliance advocacy functions.
• FCA of Chicago: Regional chapter association serving finishing contractors in the Chicago metropolitan area. Operates the same business model (membership, education, advocacy) within an overlapping Illinois geography, making it the closest direct functional peer.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): Large national federation of home builders, remodelers, and related contractors. While broader than FCAI, it serves residential contractors (a key end market for painting/drywall finishing) and competes for members' training and advocacy dollars.
• Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA): National association for mechanical contractors offering education, safety resources, and labor relations support. Operates a similar membership-and-training model in a related specialty trades segment and is a useful scale and operational benchmark.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National trade association representing the broader U.S. commercial construction industry, including merit-shop contractors. Offers overlapping training, safety, and advocacy services but covers all construction trades rather than specializing in finishing.
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA): National trade association for electrical contractors, providing workforce training, safety, and advocacy programs. Comparable as a specialty-trade association serving union-affiliated contractors, but in a different trade vertical.

Others

• Tri-Council Development Fund: Illinois labor-management partnership fund supporting training and development for the finishing trades workforce. Functions as an ecosystem partner and funding source for FCAI's apprenticeship and training activities rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/fcai
• Facebookfacebook.com/fcaofillinois
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/finishing-contractors-association-of-illinois

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois