MATCH | Manufacturing and Technical Community Hub

What MATCH | Manufacturing and Technical Community Hub does

MATCH (Manufacturing and Technical Community Hub) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2023 and headquartered in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut. The organization operates a hybrid model that combines contract manufacturing services with a paid bilingual workforce training program, serving two distinct customer groups: local Connecticut manufacturers seeking production capacity and individuals facing employment barriers who require skills training and paid work experience.

The organization's core activities include contract manufacturing services (assembly, kitting, and light manufacturing for partner manufacturers), sales of MATCH-branded LED task lights, and donations and grants. Its training component provides 25 hours per week of instruction in English plus six additional languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, and Haitian Creole), with participants earning wages while learning. The nonprofit operates from a single converted warehouse facility in Fair Haven that was redeveloped into a Trade Skills Hub in August 2024.

The business model relies on a blended revenue structure combining earned income from manufacturing services and product sales with philanthropic support. Funding sources include a $2.5 million grant from the Dalio family received in 2026 and a federal Economic Development Administration award routed through the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy in 2022. The organization employs nine people and is governed by a board chaired by Marcia LaFemina (CEO of Penn Globe), with Executive Director David Feinberg leading day-to-day operations.

Name

MATCH | Manufacturing and Technical Community Hub

Legal name

Manufacturing and Technical Community Hub

Website

https://matchct.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MATCH is a New Haven, Connecticut nonprofit combining contract manufacturing services with paid bilingual workforce training for individuals facing employment barriers, serving local Connecticut manufacturers while operating a MATCH-branded LED task light product line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Machine Shops (33271), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro primary industry

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

Keywords

• Contract manufacturing
• Workforce development
• Manufacturing training
• Bilingual job training
• Made-in-America manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

New Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: MATCH operates as a revenue-driven contract manufacturer collaborating with local companies to manufacture components and assemblies. Revenues are reinvested to support training programs, trainee compensation, and social change initiatives in Fair Haven. Services include overflow production, just-in-time delivery, assembly, machining, sheet metal fabrication, electrical wiring, welding, and fulfillment.
2. MATCH Branded LED Task Lighting Products: MATCH manufactures and sells American-made Industrial LED Task Lights designed for demanding industrial and manufacturing environments. These products provide revenue while serving as training examples for trainees learning manufacturing processes.
3. Donations and Grants: As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (Tax Id# 88-1523513), MATCH receives monetary donations, corporate gifts, and government grants to support operations, training programs, and wraparound services. Donations are tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MATCH operates a non-profit contract manufacturing facility in Fair Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, providing CNC machining, manual machining, sheet metal fabrication, electrical wiring and assembly, welding, coating, fulfillment, and logistics services to local manufacturers. The same facility functions as a paid bilingual workforce training program, where trainees learn manufacturing skills by producing real products, with comprehensive wraparound support services including financial literacy, housing assistance, and career placement. The organization also manufactures and sells its own MATCH-branded American-made Industrial LED Task Lights.

Product overview

MATCH is a non-profit manufacturing and bilingual training facility in New Haven, Connecticut, that operates as both a contract manufacturer and workforce development organization. The organization offers a portfolio of products and services centered around its contract manufacturing capabilities (producing LED task lights and manufacturing components for local companies) and a comprehensive paid training program. The training covers manufacturing skills (machining, assembly, soldering, welding, forklift), operations (logistics, warehousing, ERP), engineering (CAD/CAM, blueprint reading), and business functions (sales, HR, accounting). Wrap-around support services including financial literacy, transportation assistance, and career placement are provided to trainees. The organization aims to be self-sustaining through contract manufacturing revenues while reinvesting in community workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MATCH American-made Industrial LED Task Lights: Industrial LED Task Lights built to withstand demanding industrial and manufacturing environments while offering superior LED illumination and energy savings.

Products and services

• Contract Manufacturing Services Contract manufacturing services for local Connecticut manufacturers, including overflow production, just-in-time delivery, flexible customization, mechanical and electrical assembly, CNC and manual machining, sheet metal fabrication, electrical wiring, engineering support, logistics, and fulfillment.
• Manufacturing & Technical Training Paid bilingual manufacturing training program covering CNC and manual machining, assembly, soldering, sheet metal fabrication, electrical and wiring, welding, forklift operation, wet and powder coating, lean production, logistics, work planning, warehousing, fulfillment, shipping and receiving, facility maintenance, ERP management, product inspection, facility safety, blueprint reading, CAD/CAM software, and process engineering. Delivered in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, and Haitian. Provided at no cost to trainees who receive a real paycheck during training.
• MATCH American-made Industrial LED Task Lights American-made Industrial LED Task Lights built to withstand demanding industrial and manufacturing environments while offering superior LED illumination and energy savings. Manufactured by MATCH and sold as an in-house branded product.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trainees receive paid training while learning real manufacturing skills
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Penn GlobecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenn Globe is a community and programmatic ally of MATCH. Their CEO Marcia LaFemina has been featured in CBIA BizCast and serves on MATCH's Board, indicating a deep strategic partnership in manufacturing and workforce development.
• Fair Haven Community Manufacturing & TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFair Haven Community Manufacturing & Technology is a community ally providing programmatic support to MATCH's training and workforce development initiatives in the Fair Haven neighborhood.
• Connecticut Department of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMATCH students can be enrolled in the Connecticut Department of Labor Pre-Apprenticeship program, providing formal credentialing and workforce development pathway integration.
• Southern Connecticut State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern Connecticut State University is a programmatic ally providing educational pathway opportunities for MATCH trainees to continue their skill development.
• Gateway Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGateway Community College provides educational pathway opportunities for MATCH trainees seeking further college-level skill development.
• JuntacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJunta is a community ally that provides referral services to MATCH, helping connect individuals with employment barriers to training opportunities.
• United Way of Greater New HavencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way of Greater New Haven is a community ally that provides referral services to help connect community members with MATCH's training programs.
• ConnCATcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConnCAT (Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology) is a programmatic ally that provides referral and workforce development support to MATCH.
• IRISminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIRIS is a programmatic ally providing workforce support services to MATCH trainees.
• EmergeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmerge is a community ally providing referral services for MATCH training programs.
• Housing Authority of New HavenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHousing Authority of New Haven is a programmatic ally helping connect public housing residents with MATCH training opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Northwest Center: Seattle-based social enterprise that operates contract manufacturing, assembly, and business services alongside workforce development programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment — directly comparable to MATCH's hybrid manufacturing-plus-workforce model.
• Homeboy Industries: Los Angeles-based social enterprise running workforce training programs paired with revenue-generating businesses (bakery, silkscreen, manufacturing) to support re-entry populations — analogous earn-while-you-learn and social-enterprise structure as MATCH.
• Greyston Bakery: Yonkers, NY-based social enterprise famous for its 'Open Hiring' model that pairs manufacturing operations with workforce development for individuals facing employment barriers — closely aligned with MATCH's earn-while-you-learn philosophy.
• RecycleForce: Indianapolis-based social enterprise that operates electronics recycling and refurbishment as a revenue-funded workforce training program for returning citizens — directly analogous to MATCH's contract-manufacturing-funded training model.
• JARC (Flint, MI): Michigan-based social enterprise that operates contract manufacturing businesses alongside workforce training and residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities — closely comparable hybrid social-enterprise-plus-manufacturing model.

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: National workforce development organization providing skills training, stipends, and corporate placement for young adults — broadly comparable training-plus-employment model, though operating at significantly larger scale than MATCH.
• Per Scholas: National tuition-free workforce training nonprofit providing skills training and employer connections to adults facing barriers to employment — broader scope and tech-focused, but directly comparable workforce development model.
• Genesys Works: National nonprofit providing skills training, internships, and career pathways for high school students from under-resourced communities — comparable workforce development model serving similar trainee populations.

Others

• National Skills Coalition: National advocacy and policy organization advancing workforce development and skills training for under-skilled workers — thematically aligned ecosystem participant that influences the funding and policy environment in which MATCH operates.

Regional players

• Apprenticeship Carolina: South Carolina statewide apprenticeship and workforce intermediary program supporting skilled trades training and employer placement — analogous apprenticeship/workforce model operating in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manufacturing-and-technical-community-hub

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 MATCH | Manufacturing and Technical Community Hub