Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps

What Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps does

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps (GLCCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 in Racine, Wisconsin, continuing the Civilian Conservation Corps tradition to deliver workforce development, environmental conservation, and veteran services across seven southeastern Wisconsin counties (Kenosha, Walworth, Racine, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee). The organization operates from dual locations in Racine (1437 Marquette St) and Milwaukee (2224 W Kilbourn Ave) with a small staff of approximately 15 members led by Founder/Executive Director Chris Litzau. GLCCC was conceived at the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 2008 by 25 CCC alumni addressing regional social and physical challenges.

GLCCC's core programs include: (1) Veterans Corps, a squad-based paid AmeriCorps program providing immersive experiential learning, mentorship circles, and certifications (CDL, forklift, solar installation, HAZWOPER, OSHA, environmental remediation) for veterans transitioning to civilian life, including homeless veterans served through the U.S. Department of Labor's HVRP grant; (2) AgVets, a three-track curriculum spanning Transportation/Warehousing/Logistics, Conservation/Energy/Sustainability, and Food Production/Handling, delivered in partnership with FaB Wisconsin; (3) CERT High School, a WRISA-accredited alternative high school offering 80+ industry-recognized certifications across disaster response, recovery, and rebuilding for ages 18-20, with free CDL Class A/B/D licensing; and (4) Reduce The Runoff, a free stormwater management landscaping program for Racine County property owners. Technical outputs include a portable solar-powered charging station co-developed with University of Wisconsin-Madison for emergency preparedness, a Community Shares farmstand, and Clean Boats Clean Waters crews trained by NOAA Sea Grant.

The organization's revenue model is grant-dependent, drawing on federal sources including EPA Brownfield Job Training Grants ($200K and $500K in 2023 under the Biden-Harris Investing in America agenda), the Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program grant (2020), AmeriCorps pass-through participant stipends ($12/hour for Veterans Corps, $300/week for CERT students), and individual/corporate donations via Venmo, PayPal Giving Fund, the Fund for Lake Michigan, and the Racine Community Foundation. All programs are free to qualified participants, with services delivered directly through physical campuses and on-site deployment. Marketing and outreach rely on local earned media (The Journal Times, WUWM, FOX6, CBS58), social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and partner referrals through The Corps Network (150+ affiliated corps), county veterans service officers, and AmeriCorps.

Name

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps

Legal name

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps

Website

https://greatlakesccc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps is a Wisconsin 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering workforce development, veteran services, alternative education, and stormwater management across seven southeastern Wisconsin counties through AmeriCorps-funded Veterans Corps, AgVets, CERT High School, and Reduce The Runoff programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Conservation & Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Conservation corps programs
• Veteran reintegration services
• Alternative education programs
• Environmental stewardship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Racine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grants: Great Lakes CCC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit relying heavily on grants including EPA Brownfield Job Training Grants, Department of Labor Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) grants, and EPA community revitalization grants. The organization was awarded grants as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Accepts monetary donations and in-kind contributions from individuals and corporations to support education, conservation, and training efforts. Donations can be made via Venmo, PayPal Giving Fund, and other channels.
3. AmeriCorps Funding: Veterans Corps members become part of AmeriCorps program which provides a stipend of $12 per hour, up to 50 hours every two weeks, plus an education award. CERT High School students earn $300 per week through AmeriCorps.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs AmeriCorps-supported youth and veteran crews delivering workforce training, alternative education, and environmental conservation services in southeastern Wisconsin. Its crews complete community conservation projects (stormwater management, clean water, beach cleanup) while participants earn industry credentials and high school credit.

Product overview

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps operates as a service and conservation corps offering multiple interconnected programs: CERT High School (alternative high school with career certifications), Veterans Corps (squad-based veteran transition program including HVRP and AgVets), Climate Corps programs (Reduce The Runoff stormwater management), CDL Training, and environmental conservation initiatives (Clean Boats Clean Waters, Healthy Beaches). The organization provides workforce development, education, and community service across southeastern Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Veterans Corps: Inclusive program serving all veterans transitioning into civilian life with opportunities that build on military experience, promote purpose, provide peer support, develop job skills training, and instill self-confidence.
• Ag Veterans (AgVets)
• CERT High School
• Reduce The Runoff

Products and services

• CERT High School Program Alternative education program that enables at-risk youth aged 16–24 to earn a high school credential while gaining paid work experience and industry certifications (OSHA 10, First Aid/CPR, Forklift). Delivered in partnership with the Racine Unified School District on a 1:14 staff-to-student ratio.
• Veterans Corps Paid conservation and workforce program for veterans, providing stipends, on-the-job training, industry credentials, and reintegration support. Crews complete community conservation projects while preparing for long-term employment.
• AgVets Agricultural training track for veterans focused on farming, food systems, and agribusiness skills, delivered through conservation-style hands-on service. Veterans earn industry credentials while contributing to local food systems.
• Reduce The Runoff Environmental stewardship program addressing stormwater runoff and water quality in the Root River watershed and Lake Michigan tributaries. GLCCC crews install green infrastructure, rain gardens, and best-management practices to reduce pollution.
• Clean Boats Clean Waters Boat inspection and education program that deploys GLCCC crews to southeastern Wisconsin boat launches to inspect watercraft for invasive species and educate boaters on clean-water practices.
• Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) Federally funded program providing employment, housing navigation, and wraparound reintegration services to homeless and at-risk veterans in southeastern Wisconsin.
• CDL Training Program Commercial Driver's License training offered to corps members, providing a high-demand industry credential that supports placement in transportation and logistics careers.
• Healthy Beaches Field Trip Field-based environmental education program pairing corps members and local students with beach health monitoring, water quality testing, and shoreline stewardship activities along Lake Michigan.

Quantifiable outcome

• Veterans receive $12/hour AmeriCorps stipend plus education award while in training
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Corps NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreat Lakes CCC is a proud member of the Corps Network and collaborates to share best practices with more than 150 service and conservation corps throughout the United States, particularly with corps operating in the Great Lakes basin and the Midwest.
• AmeriCorpscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVeterans Corps and CERT High School programs are integrated with AmeriCorps, which provides stipends ($12/hour for veterans, $300/week for students) and education awards to participants.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop portable solar-powered charging station for community resiliency and emergency preparedness. Worked together for two years to produce the 'tiny, but mighty' station for use during power outages and natural disasters.
• Cream City Conservation CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner17 individuals from both organizations cleaned up Cedar Creek in rural Ozaukee County, rekindling the long tradition of local and regional Conservation Corps working together on land management projects.
• Great Lakes Region Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for unique education pilot project to improve beach conservation in Racine. The 17-month pilot program educates Racine seventh graders about coastal engineering with mentorship from working engineers and professionals.
• NOAA Sea Grant / UW Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrained by NOAA Sea Grant and UW Sea Grant for Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) program to prevent spread of aquatic invasive species. GLCCC crews stationed at Lake Michigan boat launches in Pershing Park (Racine) and Simmons Island (Kenosha).
• Milwaukee Homeless Veterans InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLCCC supports this organization as part of its Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Grant. Collaboration provides support services, education and job training to help homeless veterans reintegrate into the workforce.
• FaB Wisconsin (Food and Beverage Wisconsin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgVets program cultivates partnerships with agribusiness employers and members of FaB Wisconsin. Guest speakers from FaB Wisconsin present job market overviews by sector to veterans in the program.
• Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation (WRISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERT High School curriculum developed in partnership with WRISA for accreditation as an alternative high school operating year-round.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Civic Works: Baltimore-based community conservation corps operating AmeriCorps-funded programs in energy conservation, urban agriculture, and workforce development — a long-running comparable with similar target demographics (disadvantaged youth and adults) and earn-while-you-learn structure.
• Groundwork USA: National network of local Groundwork trusts that operate conservation corps programs focused on environmental remediation and youth workforce development in underinvested communities — same hybrid model of paid training plus local environmental project delivery that GLCCC operates.
• Groundwork Milwaukee: Local Groundwork trust within Groundwork USA operating in the same Greater Milwaukee region as GLCCC, focusing on environmental restoration, urban agriculture, and youth green-jobs training — directly overlapping beneficiary populations and program themes.
• Conservation Legacy: Operates multiple regional conservation corps (Appalachian, Southwest, Southeast, Ancestral Lands) with conservation project delivery, youth and veteran workforce pathways, and AmeriCorps integration — directly comparable operating model and program architecture.
• Appalachian Conservation Corps: Regional conservation corps serving young adults and veterans through AmeriCorps-funded crews on trail, habitat, and disaster-response projects — closely matches the Veterans Corps and CERT High School field-deployment component.
• Cream City Conservation Corps: Milwaukee-based service and conservation corps with an overlapping southeastern Wisconsin geographic footprint and similar workforce-development-plus-conservation mission. GLCCC and Cream City have jointly executed land management projects, making this the closest direct peer.

Broad incumbents

• The Corps Network: National membership organization of 150+ service and conservation corps of which GLCCC is itself a member. Operates as the policy and funding advocate for the entire sector — relevant both as an ecosystem umbrella and as a peer that competes for thought-leadership visibility.
• AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps): Federal national service program deploying young adults in teams on disaster response, infrastructure, and environmental projects. Operates at much larger scale and geography but competes for the same AmeriCorps funding pipeline and participant pool.

Regional players

• Wisconsin Conservation Corps: Wisconsin DNR-affiliated conservation corps providing outdoor skills and conservation work experience to Wisconsin youth. Same state-level geographic frame as GLCCC, but primarily a state-government program with a more narrow conservation-only scope.
• Montgomery County Conservation Corps: Regional conservation corps serving Maryland/DC metro area with environmental and workforce development programming — comparable structure but operates in a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GLCCCWI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-lakes-community-conservation-corps-incorporated
• Instagraminstagram.com/great.lakes.ccc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps