Steepletown Neighborhood Services Inc

What Steepletown Neighborhood Services Inc does

Steepletown Neighborhood Services Inc is a Michigan nonprofit incorporated on March 8, 1994 and headquartered at 827 Bridge Street NW in Grand Rapids, serving Kent County residents through an integrated portfolio of community programs. Its core offerings include JobStart (paid work experience and career coaching for disconnected young adults), GED preparation, Kitchen Sage (a Michigan Proprietary School-licensed culinary training program that also produces meals for roughly 350–400 preschoolers daily across approximately seven sites), the Early Learning Center (a preschool with two GSRP and two 3-year-old classrooms managed since August 2022), a DOL-registered Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program with eight employer partners, the Medical Assistant Registered Apprenticeship Program (MARAP) launched with West MI Works!, GRCC, and Mercy Health, and Senior Home Chore Services (lawn care and snow removal) funded by the Kent County Senior Millage. The organization operates with approximately 25 employees under Executive Director Emilio Zamarripa, who was appointed in July 2024 after a 9-year tenure as Workforce Development Director.

The organization is funded entirely through donations, government grants (Kent County Senior Millage, WIOA, Childcare Innovation Fund via the Early Childhood Investment Corporation), and signature fundraising events such as Taste the West Side. Services are delivered at no direct cost to participants, and pricing is donation-based. Its go-to-market is community-embedded and partner-driven: West MI Works!, schools, and community centers refer candidates; employer partners hire program graduates; and outcomes (88% GED passing rate, JobStart jail-avoidance placements, ECE credentialing through GRCC) are marketed through the Steepletown website, Facebook, YouTube, and an email newsletter.

The technology footprint is minimal — the organization is not technology-focused and has no AI/ML, API, or proprietary product components — and revenue is not publicly disclosed, consistent with a small, grant-dependent community nonprofit operating in a single metropolitan service area.

Name

Steepletown Neighborhood Services Inc

Legal name

Steepletown Neighborhood Services Inc

Website

https://steepletown.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Steepletown Neighborhood Services Inc is a Grand Rapids, Michigan nonprofit serving Kent County with workforce development (JobStart, GED, culinary training), early childhood education (Early Learning Center, ECE apprenticeship), and senior home-chore services, funded entirely through donations and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Workforce Development and Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Early childhood education
• Youth employment programs
• Culinary training programs
• Community nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Steepletown Neighborhood Services is run completely on donations. The organization states that contributions help fund the change they want to see in the community.
2. Government Grants and Funding: Receives government funding including Kent County Senior Millage for senior home chore services and WIOA funding for workforce development programs.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual signature fundraising event 'Taste the West Side' bringing together West Side restaurant and brewery partners.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Steepletown Neighborhood Services is a nonprofit community organization that delivers workforce development, early childhood education, and senior support services to Kent County residents. Its core offerings include the JobStart paid work-experience program for disconnected young adults, Kitchen Sage culinary training (a state-licensed Proprietary School), GED preparation, preschool programs for 3 and 4 year-olds, a registered Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship, and Senior Home Chore Services (lawn care and snow removal). Programs are provided free of charge to participants and funded through donations, grants, and government contracts.

Product overview

Steepletown Neighborhood Services is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of workforce development and community support programs. Its core offerings include: Early Childhood Education preschool programs (for 3 and 4 year-olds at the Early Learning Center and Godfrey-Lee ECC); GED and high school completion services; the JobStart workforce training program; Kitchen Sage culinary arts training; the Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program combining GRCC coursework with paid on-the-job learning; and Senior Home Chore Services for lawn care and snow removal. The organization serves Kent County residents with a mission to connect young adults and families to employment and training opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kitchen Sage: A culinary training program for young adults wanting to gain employment in the food service industry, providing classroom instruction and hands-on training.
• Early Learning Center
• JobStart

Products and services

• Early Childhood Education (Preschool Program) High-quality preschool programs for 3 and 4 year-old children at the Early Learning Center and Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center locations, offered as part of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC). Free to qualifying families through GSRP (Great Start Readiness Program) funding.
• GED and High School Completion GED preparation services that help young adults earn their high school equivalency credential through classroom instruction and test preparation. Achieved an 88% passing rate in the most recent program year (up from 73% the previous year).
• JobStart Employment-focused workforce training program for disconnected young adults that provides paid work experience, job readiness training, and career coaching. Participants gain skills through work crews serving senior citizens (lawn care, snow removal) and connect to employment opportunities.
• Kitchen Sage Culinary arts training program combining classroom instruction and hands-on training for young adults seeking food service employment. Also produces meals for approximately 350-400 preschoolers daily across approximately 7 preschool sites in Kent County.
• Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program Registered apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor that combines Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) coursework toward a CDA credential with paid on-the-job learning guided by mentor teachers. Participants earn an hourly wage while completing their apprenticeship and earn credits toward an Associate Degree.
• Senior Home Chore Services Lawn care and snow removal services for senior citizens in Kent County, funded through Kent County Senior Millage and contracted through the Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan. Serves as both a community service and a workforce training opportunity for JobStart participants.
• WIOA Training Services Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) training services providing case management and support for out-of-school young adults to access academic and training resources, including access to the Eligible Training Providers list on which Kitchen Sage is included.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 young adults completed GED credential in one program year with 88% passing rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• West MI Works!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in the Medical Assistant Registered Apprenticeship Program (MARAP), working with local hospitals and medical offices to create a program for aspiring Medical Assistants.
• Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MARAP for classroom instruction and in Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship program offering CDA coursework and credits toward Associate Degree.
• Mercy HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHospital employer partner in MARAP program, hiring Medical Assistant Apprentices who complete the training.
• Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in early childhood education; operates multiple preschool centers; partner in ECE apprenticeship program.
• Grand Rapids Early Discovery CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner in Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship program.
• United Methodist Community HouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner in Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship program.
• Baxter Community CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner in Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship program.
• YMCAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner in Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship program.
• Hispanic CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner in Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship program.
• SECOM Resource CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner in Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship program.
• Other Way MinistriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner in Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship program.
• Covenant House Michigan - Grand RapidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKitchen Sage manages food services at Covenant House's facility for homeless, at-risk, and runaway youth. Chef Lucy oversees the kitchen and teaches cooking skills to residents.
• Michigan Rehabilitation ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Camp Kitchen Sage summer program and culinary training for individuals with disabilities.
• Ionia Intermediate School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Camp Kitchen Sage summer program for work-based skills development.
• Woodland EquipmentminorOthersDonated three pieces of lawn care equipment and provided training on equipment maintenance to JobStart participants.
• Briggs & Stratton/VanguardminorOthersDonated lawn mowers for use in JobStart lawn care crew serving senior citizens.
• Area Agency on Aging of West MichigancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContracts with Steepletown to provide snow removal services for seniors under Kent County Senior Millage funding.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF): Grand Rapids nonprofit focused on neighborhood revitalization and family self-sufficiency on the West Side. Directly comparable community-development mission in Steepletown's same geographic service area, with similar values-based neighborhood focus.
• Hope Network: Michigan-based nonprofit providing workforce development, employment placement, and community-based services for individuals with barriers to employment. Comparable to Steepletown's mission of connecting vulnerable populations to economic self-sufficiency, with broader geographic reach across Michigan.
• Baxter Community Center: Grand Rapids community center providing childcare, workforce development, and family support services. Comparable to Steepletown's integrated model of early childhood education plus community support, and serves as an employer-partner in Steepletown's ECE apprenticeship network.
• Mel Trotter Ministries: Grand Rapids nonprofit providing emergency services, shelter, and community support to individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness. Comparable as a Grand Rapids-based community services nonprofit serving overlapping vulnerable populations.
• West Michigan Works!: West Michigan's American Job Center operator providing workforce development, WIOA services, and employment training. Directly comparable to Steepletown's workforce development mission and serves as a core strategic partner in Steepletown's MARAP program.
• Hispanic Center of Western Michigan: Grand Rapids-based community services nonprofit serving Latino families through education, workforce, and youth programs. Directly comparable to Steepletown as a Grand Rapids community-embedded employer-partner in the ECE apprenticeship network, serving similar demographic populations.
• United Methodist Community House: Grand Rapids community services nonprofit offering early childhood education, youth programs, and adult services. Directly comparable to Steepletown as a Grand Rapids community organization and as an employer-partner in the ECE apprenticeship program.
• Other Way Ministries: Grand Rapids West Side community ministry providing youth programs, family support, and community services. Comparable to Steepletown's community-embedded model serving the same West Side neighborhood, and serves as an employer-partner in Steepletown's ECE apprenticeship network.
• Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids: Nonprofit workforce development organization serving West Michigan with job training, GED preparation, and employment placement for individuals facing barriers to employment. Highly comparable mission and program mix to Steepletown's JobStart and GED services, though operating at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Treetops Collective: Grand Rapids nonprofit providing refugee resettlement services, employment support, and community integration programs. Comparable to Steepletown's workforce development mission for vulnerable populations in West Michigan, though serving a different specific demographic niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Steepletown671
• Facebookfacebook.com/steepletownneighborhoodservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steepletown-neighborhood-services-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Steepletown Neighborhood Services Inc