Wilco Area Career Center
Wilco Area Career Center is a publicly funded career and technical education institution in Romeoville, Illinois, serving students from 10 Will County high schools through 20+ vocational programs in healthcare, trades, technical fields, and services, with dual credit pathways through Joliet Junior College and College of DuPage.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersRomeoville, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wilco Area Career Center does
Wilco Area Career Center is a publicly funded career and technical education (CTE) institution headquartered at 500 Wilco Blvd, Romeoville, Illinois, operating under a joint agreement among school districts in Will County. It serves students from 10 partner high schools — Bolingbrook, Lemont, Lockport, Plainfield Central, Plainfield East, Plainfield North, Plainfield South, Reed-Custer, Romeoville, and Wilmington — through a half-day model in which students split time between their home school and Wilco's vocational labs. The institution offers 20+ program areas spanning healthcare (CNA, Medical Assisting, Intro to Health Professions, Fire Science/EMT), skilled trades (Welding, Construction/Building Trades, Auto Service Technology, Heavy Equipment Technology), technical disciplines (Computer Technology, CCC Cybersecurity/Cisco/Cloud, ACE Architecture/Construction/Engineering, AIM Advanced Integrated Manufacturing, Aviation), and services (Culinary Arts, Veterinary Assistant, Cosmetology/Barbering/Nail Technology, Law Enforcement, Early Childhood Education, Business/Business Logistics), plus an on-site preschool lab, adult education, and work-based learning.
The center generates revenue primarily through per-pupil tuition allocations from member districts plus state and federal Perkins CTE grants. Secondary revenue streams include dual credit tuition at $12/credit hour through articulation agreements with Joliet Junior College and College of DuPage (versus $151/credit regular JJC tuition) and program-specific materials fees for CNA, welding, and culinary. The center does not publicly disclose revenue and has no equity investors, operating under governance of a Board of Control composed of district representatives, with executive leadership provided by Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Kaufman and Assistant Director/Principal Dr. Alicia Cook. Industry and community partnerships with the American Welding Society Foundation, Rod Baker Ford, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Romeoville Police Department, Joliet Junior Woman's Club, Project C.U.R.E., and the American Red Cross support program enrichment, equipment donations, and student placement pathways.
Wilco Area Career Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wilco Area Career Center
- Legal name
- Wilco Area Career Center
- Website
- https://wilco.k12.il.us
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Wilco Area Career Center is a publicly funded career and technical education institution in Romeoville, Illinois, serving students from 10 Will County high schools through 20+ vocational programs in healthcare, trades, technical fields, and services, with dual credit pathways through Joliet Junior College and College of DuPage.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wilco Area Career Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Career and Technical Education
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM)
Keywords
Where Wilco Area Career Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Romeoville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wilco Area Career Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Per-Pupil Funding: Public career center funded by member school districts through per-pupil tuition allocations based on student enrollment from each participating high school.
- State and Federal CTE Funding: Receives Perkins CTE funding and other state/federal grants for career and technical education programs.
- Dual Credit Tuition: Charges $12/credit hour for dual credit college courses through Joliet Junior College partnership, generating revenue from college credit-bearing enrollments.
- Program Fees: Collects fees for specific programs including materials fees for CNA, welding materials, and culinary supplies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | JJC Dual Credit Courses - $12/credit hour |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Wilco Area Career Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wilco Area Career Center is a public career and technical education institution that delivers hands-on vocational training programs to high school students from 10 partner schools in Will County, Illinois. It offers 20+ program areas including certified nursing assistant (CNA), welding, culinary arts, automotive technology, veterinary assistant, law enforcement, construction trades, computer technology, and early childhood education. The center also provides dual credit college courses through partnerships with Joliet Junior College and College of DuPage, along with work-based learning, adult education, and an on-site preschool lab.
Product overview
Wilco Area Career Center is a career and technical education institution serving students from 10 high schools across Will County, Illinois. The center operates as a unified educational platform offering 20+ career-focused programs spanning healthcare, trades, business, public safety, and early childhood education. Programs include certification-track offerings like CNA, Welding, and Veterinary Assistant alongside foundational courses like Introduction to Health Professions and Law Enforcement. The institution provides dual credit pathways through partnerships with Joliet Junior College and College of DuPage, allowing students to earn college credits while in high school. A distinctive feature is the hands-on training environment where students operate real-world labs, preschool classrooms, and public dining events. The center also serves adult learners through continuing education and summer programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Wilco Career Programs: Career and technical education programs serving Will County high school students including healthcare, trades, culinary arts, automotive, and technology programs.
Products and services
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program
- Culinary Arts
- Welding
- Veterinary Assistant
- Auto Service Technology
- Early Childhood Education
- Fire Science / Emergency Medical Technician
- Construction / Building Trades
- Computer Technology (CCC: Cyber Security, Cisco, and Cloud)
- Business / Business Logistics
- Medical Assisting
- Law Enforcement
- Cosmetology / Barbering / Nail Technology
- Aviation
- ACE: Architecture, Construction Management and Engineering
- AET: Applied Engineering Technology
- AIM: Advanced Integrated Manufacturing
- Heavy Equipment Technology
- Introduction to Health Professions
- Dual Credit / Dual Enrollment
- Work-Based Learning
- Preschool
- Adult Education
Quantifiable outcome
- Dual credit at $12/credit vs $151 regular tuition saves students significant college costs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Wilco Area Career Center
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wilco Area Career Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Wilco Area Career Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered notable, minor and core.
- St. Joseph's Medical Center (Joliet)notableProvides facility tours and hands-on learning experiences for Intro to Health Professions students. Students visited Cardiac Cath Lab, Interventional Radiology, MRI, ECHO Cardiography, Pediatrics, Oncology, Lab, and Pathology departments.
- Joliet Junior Woman's ClubnotableDonated $1,000 to Wilco Early Childhood Education Program to support FCCLA student competitions. JJWC also partnered with ECE/FCCLA for volunteer activities at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.
- American Red CrossminorHOSA students hosted blood drive collecting 35 units potentially saving 105 lives. Supports student leadership and community service development.
- Rod Baker FordnotableDonated 2023 Lincoln Aviator to Wilco's automotive program in recognition of students completing the most ACE (Automotive Career Exploration) training modules in Illinois. Supports hands-on automotive training with industry-standard equipment.
- Tortilla Flatz MexicanGrillminorLocal restaurant partnered with Building Trades program for fundraising event, presenting $960 check to support the program.
- National Title SolutionsminorBuilding Trades fundraising event partner, contributing to $960 donation for program support.
- Kind LendingminorBuilding Trades fundraising event partner, contributing to $960 donation for program support.
- Joliet Junior College (JJC)corePrimary dual credit partnership enabling high school students to earn college credits at $12/credit (vs $151 regular tuition). JJC provides curriculum articulation, instructor credentials, and credit transfer agreements across multiple CTE program areas including law enforcement, health sciences, business, and more.
- College of DuPagecoreDual credit partnership for Fire Science and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) programs. Students completing coursework may take the EMT-Basic exam and earn credits toward COD degrees.
- Romeoville Police DepartmentcoreCadet Program partnership enhances law enforcement students' training with real-world police experience including handcuffing, de-escalation, traffic stops, investigation, and use of force. Prepares students for careers in policing, corrections, investigations, and federal law enforcement.
- Project C.U.R.E.notableNonprofit providing medical supplies to developing countries. Wilco HOSA students volunteer at the warehouse, learning about global healthcare disparities while sorting and organizing medical supplies.
- Tinley Park Emergency Management AgencyminorVendor participant at Health and Human Services Career Expo connecting students with emergency services career opportunities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wilco Area Career Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Joliet Junior College: Wilco's primary dual credit partner and a regional community college providing articulated CTE pathways; comparable in dual enrollment, healthcare, law enforcement, and trades programming to Wilco's offerings.
- College of DuPage: Secondary dual credit partner delivering EMT and Fire Science college credit to Wilco students; comparable as a regional community college with technical program overlap in emergency services and trades.
- DuPage Area Career Education (DACE): Public area vocational education center serving DuPage County high schools with shared-time CTE programs in health, trades, and technology; the closest structural analog to Wilco within the same Illinois CTE ecosystem.
- Township High School District 214 Career Academy: Large Illinois high school district operating its own CTE career academy serving multiple feeder schools with technical and health programs; comparable shared-time CTE delivery model with hands-on labs and dual credit options.
- Kishwaukee Education Consortium: Illinois regional vocational cooperative delivering CTE to multiple high schools with shared-time scheduling; closely matches Wilco's joint-agreement structure and program areas including health sciences, trades, and agriculture.
- Indian Valley Vocational Center: Illinois-area vocational cooperative delivering CTE programs to multiple feeder high schools; mirrors Wilco's joint-agreement governance, per-pupil funding model, and program breadth in trades and health sciences.
Broad incumbents
- Lincoln Tech: Multi-campus private CTE operator offering automotive, welding, HVAC, healthcare, and culinary programs; overlaps with several Wilco program areas and competes for students seeking industry-recognized training.
- Universal Technical Institute: National private for-profit CTE provider focused on automotive, diesel, welding, and industrial trades; competes for the same student outcomes (industry certifications and employment) as Wilco's trades programs, though as a paid tuition model rather than public funding.
Regional players
- Waubonsee Community College: Illinois community college with technical programs and dual credit pathways serving the Fox Valley region; comparable dual credit and CTE delivery adjacent to Wilco's Will County footprint.
- Parkland College: Illinois community college with strong technical/trade and dual credit programs serving east-central Illinois; comparable CTE curriculum portfolio and dual credit articulation model to Wilco's community college partners.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wilco Area Career Center social profiles
Digital presenceWilco Area Career Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wilco Area Career Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Wilco Area Career Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wilco Area Career Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wilco Area Career Center
What does Wilco Area Career Center do?
Wilco Area Career Center is a public career and technical education institution that delivers hands-on vocational training programs to high school students from 10 partner schools in Will County, Illinois. It offers 20+ program areas including certified nursing assistant (CNA), welding, culinary arts, automotive technology, veterinary assistant, law enforcement, construction trades, computer technology, and early childhood education. The center also provides dual credit college courses through partnerships with Joliet Junior College and College of DuPage, along with work-based learning, adult education, and an on-site preschool lab.
Is Wilco Area Career Center a public or private company?
Wilco Area Career Center is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Wilco Area Career Center founded?
Wilco Area Career Center was founded in -1.
Where is Wilco Area Career Center based?
Wilco Area Career Center is headquartered in Romeoville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wilco Area Career Center make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Per-Pupil Funding is the primary driver. The others are state and Federal CTE Funding, dual Credit Tuition and program Fees.
Who are Wilco Area Career Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Joliet Junior College, College of DuPage, DuPage Area Career Education (DACE), Township High School District 214 Career Academy, Kishwaukee Education Consortium and Indian Valley Vocational Center. Broad incumbents are Lincoln Tech and Universal Technical Institute. Regional players are Waubonsee Community College and Parkland College.
Does Wilco Area Career Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wilco Area Career Center.
What industry is Wilco Area Career Center in?
Wilco Area Career Center's product category is Career and Technical Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAJ, Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs, with a secondary code of EDAHADAG, Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit). Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.