MONROE ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS INC

What MONROE ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS INC does

Monroe Association for Retarded Citizens Inc (MARC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1966 that delivers residential and community-based services to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities across Monroe County, Florida Keys. The agency operates two group homes serving 17 residents and provides Adult Day Training (ADT), supported employment, supported living, and recreational programs including sailing, surfing, fishing, and the Dance Project. Two social enterprises—a Plant Store in Key West and the Upper Keys Thrift Store (Bazaar) in Tavernier—supplement programmatic activity. Operations are anchored from Key West (headquarters) with a second site in Tavernier serving the Upper Keys.

The business model is grant- and reimbursement-driven. Core services are billed primarily through Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) via Medicaid iDD waivers. Revenue is supplemented by individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (notably the Ocean Reef Community Foundation, which awarded $30,000 in 2026 for Upper Keys transportation, up from $10,000 in 2023), membership tiers ranging from $50 to $5,000, and fundraising events including Tour de Keys, Rum Festival, Fantasy Fest, Pumpkin Patch, and the Christmas Tree Lot. The agency maintains a 95.6% Qlarant provider review score and has entered partnerships such as SOS Eco Farm (April 2023) to expand vocational and therapeutic-agriculture offerings. Operational posture is mature and stable: long-tenured leadership (Diana Flenard, 40 years) has been followed by planned succession (Clint Bower in July 2024; Jeffrey Mann in early 2026), while funding headwinds—a $103,000 county cut, a $150,000 gubernatorial veto, and an 11% / $180,000 APD rate increase under Florida's Live Healthy legislation—frame the financial context.

Name

MONROE ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS INC

Legal name

Monroe Association for Retarded Citizens Inc

Website

https://marchouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Monroe Association for Retarded Citizens Inc (MARC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1966 providing residential, day training, supported employment, and supported living services to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities across Monroe County, Florida Keys, with facilities in Key West and Tavernier.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Social Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Vocational training programs
• Group home residential care
• Supported employment services
• Community-based nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Key West, Florida

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: State and federal funding through Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), including Medicaid waivers and state allocations for services to developmentally disabled adults. Received 11% rate increase through Live Healthy Legislation (approximately $180,000).
2. Retail Operations: Plant Store in Key West and Thrift Store/Bazaar in Tavernier generate revenue through sale of plants, merchandise, and client-made products. Proceeds support programs when government funding is insufficient.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events including Pumpkin Patch, Christmas Tree Lot, Tour de Keys Bike Ride, Rum Festival events, and community donations.
4. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers from $50-$5,000 offering discounts at Plant Store and Thrift Store in exchange for recurring annual support.
5. Grants: Foundation grants from Ocean Reef Community Foundation, Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, and other charitable organizations support specific programs and capital needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MARC is a nonprofit social services organization providing wraparound life services for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities (including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and pre-18 traumatic brain injury) in Monroe County, Florida. Core offerings include Adult Day Training, 24-hour Group Home residential care, Supportive Living coaching, Supported Employment job placement, and social-enterprise retail (Plant Store, Thrift Store). Services are individualized, dignity-focused, and delivered in a family environment.

Product overview

MARC House (Monroe Association for ReMARCable Citizens) is a nonprofit organization providing wrap-around life services for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in Monroe County, Florida. The organization operates a multi-service model consisting of: Core Residential Services (Group Homes with 24-hour supervision and Supportive Living coaching), Adult Day Training (ADT) programs including vocational training in horticulture, art, jewelry-making, kitchen skills, and community inclusion, and Supported Employment services with job placement and landscaping operations. The organization also runs social enterprise retail operations including the Plant Store nursery and Upper Keys Thrift Store/Bazaar, which serve dual purposes as vocational training sites and fundraising mechanisms. Annual fundraising events include Tour de Keys bike ride, Pumpkin Patch, Christmas Tree Lot, Table-Top Tree Auction, and Spring Soirée. Community engagement programs include Adopt a Client, membership program, and environmental initiatives like Got Sneakers and Fantasy Fest bead recycling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Plant Store: A neighborhood nursery at 1401 Seminary Street in Key West where clients gain horticulture, retail, and customer service experience. Sells tropical plants, flowering plants, succulents, herbs, trees, pottery, and garden décor.
• Upper Keys Thrift Store (Bazaar)
• Rainbow Café
• Supported Employment Landscaping Service

Products and services

• Adult Day Training (ADT) Day program for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities providing training in life skills, social skills, self-care, and vocational disciplines (horticulture, art, kitchen, jewelry) at multiple Key West and Tavernier sites.
• Group Homes (Windsor and Von Phister) 24-hour supervised residential care in two Key West group homes serving adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities; assistance with daily activities, self-care, chores, and social skills.
• Supportive Living 24-hour coaching and daily-living assistance for clients with developmental and intellectual disabilities who live independently in their own homes or apartments.
• Supported Employment Job training, placement, and ongoing coaching that places adults with developmental disabilities in paid employment at minimum wage or above, plus an internal landscaping crew serving residential and commercial clients in the Lower Keys.
• MARC Plant Store Retail nursery at 1401 Seminary Street, Key West, that doubles as a vocational training site, selling tropical plants, orchids, succulents, herbs, trees, pottery, and garden décor to the public Monday–Saturday and Sunday mornings.
• Upper Keys Thrift Store (Bazaar) Thrift store in Tavernier at Coral Isles United Church of Christ selling donated merchandise, client-made jewelry, and artwork; functions as a vocational training site for Upper Keys Adult Day Training clients.
• Rainbow Café (vocational training kitchen) Vocational-training kitchen program providing restaurant work skills to Adult Day Training clients; café service to the public is currently suspended but the kitchen remains an active training site.
• Kitchen Life Skills Training Upper Keys life-skills training program in which clients learn cooking, nutrition, safety, self-care, and meal preparation for themselves and their families.
• Art Program (Project Room) Art and craft program where clients create ceramics, canvas paintings, paint-by-numbers, beaded jewelry, notecards, fairy wands, and seasonal items sold at the Plant Store gift shop.
• Jewelry Making Program Upper Keys jewelry-making program in which clients create handcrafted necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and decorative tree charms sold at the Upper Keys Bazaar.
• Horticulture Program (with SOS Eco Farm) Horticulture training in which clients grow plants from seedlings, repot, water, prune, and care for them, supported by the SOS Eco Farm urban tower garden collaboration with SOS Foundation.
• Tour de Keys (Annual Charity Bike Ride) Annual charity bike ride with 50- and 100-mile routes from Key Largo or Marathon to Key West, raising funds for MARC's programs and services for adults with disabilities.
• Table-Top Tree and Wreath Auction Annual early-December auction event featuring decorated tabletop trees and wreaths to raise funds for MARC's programs.
• Pumpkin Patch Annual October seasonal event selling pumpkins and gourds of all sizes to raise funds for MARC's programs.
• Christmas Tree Lot Annual Christmas tree lot operating from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through December 24, selling trees, wreaths, and poinsettias to raise funds for MARC's programs.
• Spring Soirée Annual spring fundraising event held in Islamorada featuring fashion, food, and art to support MARC's programs.
• Adopt a Client Program Monthly recurring donor program ($10/month) funding client enrichment activities such as community outings, recreational events, and friendship-building experiences.
• reMARCable Membership Program Annual membership program with tiers from $50 (Individual) to $5,000 (Benefactor) that provides a 10% discount at the MARC Plant Store and Upper Keys Thrift Store as a recurring-supporter benefit.
• Fantasy Fest Bead Recycling Eco-friendly recycling partnership with Fantasy Fest in which MARC clients clean, sort, repair, and repackage donated beads for resale.
• reMARCable Dance Project Collaborative dance program with Dance Key West in which MARC clients participate in public dance performances such as Peter and the Wolf and garden dance events.
• Got Sneakers Recycling Program Sneaker recycling initiative accepting used sneakers at MARC for recycling, keeping footwear out of landfills.
• Bead Recycling Program (Plant Store drop-off) Community bead drop-off site at the MARC Plant Store connected to the Fantasy Fest Bead Recycling program; clients sanitize, sort, and resell donated beads.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95.6% quality compliance score on Qlarant review with clean financial audit
• +1 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Representative Jim MooneycoreOthers · 1 February 2026Florida State Representative championed MARC funding initiatives including $150,000 funding request (vetoed) and supported ReMARCable Aquaponics project. Met with MARC leadership in Tallahassee.
• Classic Harbor Line / America 2.0minorOthers · 1 January 2026Provided sailing excursion on America 2.0 sailboat for MARC clients, allowing opportunity to steer boat and enjoy day at sea. Crew wore MARC-branded hats during experience.
• Island Dolphin CareminorOthers · 1 January 2026Key Largo-based organization providing animal-assisted therapeutic programs. Hosted MARC clients for dolphin interaction experience providing joy, learning, and meaningful connections.
• Dance Key WestminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborative dance program producing 'reMARCable Dance Project' performances including 'Peter and the Wolf' and garden dance events. Provides artistic expression and performance opportunities for MARC clients.
• SOS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2023Collaboration on SOS Eco Farm - Urban Tower Garden at MARC facility. Educates community about sustainable agriculture and provides healthy produce. Farm is maintained by SOS staff, MARC staff, and clients.
• Senator Ana Maria RodriguezcoreOthers · 1 January 2023Florida State Senator championed MARC funding initiatives and visited MARC Plant Store to present legislative funding.
• Fantasy FestminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Eco-friendly bead recycling partnership. Community donates beads at various Key West locations including Key West Business Guild and Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce. MARC clients sanitize, sort, repair, and repackage beads for resale.
• Key West Business GuildminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Bead collection location for Fantasy Fest bead recycling program.
• Greater Key West Chamber of CommerceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Bead collection location for Fantasy Fest bead recycling program.
• Southernmost Riding ClubminorOthers · 1 January 2020Hosted horse riding activity for MARC clients including Pam, Molly, Francisco, David, and Joseph.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Opportunity Village (Las Vegas): Nonprofit providing employment, day services, and residential programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including social enterprise operations. Demonstrates a scaled-up version of MARC's wraparound model blending social enterprise with direct services.
• MACtown, Inc. Miami-based 501(c)(3) providing residential, vocational, and adult day services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Directly comparable operating model—group homes, supported employment, ADT—and was previously led by Clint Bower before he briefly served as MARC's Executive Director.
• The Arc Gateway: Pensacola-based nonprofit serving adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities through group homes, adult day training, supported employment, and behavioral services. Closely comparable multi-program, multi-site wraparound model to MARC's.
• The Arc Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay Arc chapter offering adult day services, residential group homes, supported employment, and family support to people with developmental disabilities. Mirrors MARC's integrated service-line model within a different Florida region.
• UCP of Central Florida / United Cerebral Palsy: Central Florida affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy providing residential, adult day, vocational, and therapy services for individuals with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities. Operates a comparable mix of group homes, day programs, and supported employment.
• The Arc Jacksonville: Northeast Florida Arc chapter providing adult day training, residential group homes, supported employment, and behavioral services to individuals with IDD. Closely matches MARC's service mix in a different regional market within Florida.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit focused on creating friendships, employment opportunities, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Partial overlap with MARC's supported employment and community inclusion programs, but emphasizes one-to-one pairing rather than residential services.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of Florida: Statewide umbrella organization coordinating Florida chapters of The Arc, which is the same national affiliation as MARC (an Arc chapter). Provides advocacy, training, and programmatic support to local chapters serving people with IDD across the state.
• Easterseals Florida: State affiliate of Easterseals serving children and adults with disabilities and special needs through medical, therapy, employment, and community-based programs. Operates broader scope but overlapping service lines with MARC's adult day, employment, and community integration work.

Others

• Special Olympics Florida: Florida affiliate providing year-round sports training, competition, and health programming for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Adjacent ecosystem partner—shares the same client population and often co-receives referrals—rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@marcinc8040
• Facebookfacebook.com/marchouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/monroe-association-for-retarded-citizens-inc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about MONROE ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS INC