SEAT Center (Social Enterprise and Training Center)

What SEAT Center (Social Enterprise and Training Center) does

SEAT Center (Social Enterprise and Training Center) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization founded in 2016 and headquartered at 131 State Street, Schenectady, New York, with a secondary site at 120 South Church Street. Its mission is to prepare out-of-school young adults ages 16-24 in New York's Capital Region for employment and further education through industry-recognized credentials, hands-on training, and wraparound support services. The organization serves approximately 250 young people annually across multiple program tracks.

The core product portfolio centers on the YouthBuild Schenectady program (published cost of $22,379 per participant), which combines construction trades training with GED preparation and job placement. Specialized Build Up programs extend the model into Culinary ($20,000/participant), HVAC, Film (Young Filmmakers), and Careers in Energy ($20,000/participant), supported by NCCER Core Construction credentialing ($6,285.90 or $7,000.98 with manufacturing add-on). Three social enterprises — Hattie's Culinary Lab (a student-run training restaurant), SEAT for Hire (graduate staffing service), and SEAT Works (construction services) — generate earned revenue while providing real-world training environments. Notable operational outputs include the 99 Prospect Street net-zero affordable home built by 52 YouthBuild students targeting LEED Platinum certification.

SEAT's revenue model combines federal grant funding (primarily US Department of Labor YouthBuild grants and AmeriCorps National Direct sub-grants), state appropriations ($75,000 NY State budget inclusion in 2026 secured by Assembly member Phil Steck), tuition and fee-for-service training, social enterprise commercial revenue, philanthropic donations, and annual event fundraising (Bites & Brews, Savor the Summer, Colliding Forces Impact Awards). The organization markets through community-led go-to-motion, with direct outreach to schools, churches, and community organizations, facility tours, and earned media. Employer partnerships with construction, culinary, HVAC, and energy-sector firms (MLB Construction, Crisafulli Bros., Hattie's Restaurants, Apollo Heating, Precision Valve & Automation, Living Resources, Schenectady Film Commission) drive graduate placement and co-fund programming.

Name

SEAT Center (Social Enterprise and Training Center)

Legal name

SEAT Center

Website

https://seatcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development & Vocational Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Job Readiness Training & Soft Skills Development (EDAKANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

Keywords

• Workforce development training
• Youth construction trades
• Culinary arts training
• HVAC vocational training
• Industry credential programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Schenectady

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Public Funding: Primary funding from US Department of Labor grants, state budget allocations, and AmeriCorps/National Direct sub-grants. YouthBuild Schenectady receives federal funding through the Department of Labor.
2. Program Tuition: Fee-for-service training programs where participants pay tuition. Tuition rates include YouthBuild ($22,379), Build Up Culinary ($20,000), Build Up Careers in Energy ($20,000), and NCCER Core Construction ($6,285.90 or $7,000.98 with manufacturing credential).
3. Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue generated through social enterprises including Hattie's Culinary Lab, SEAT for Hire (workforce staffing), and SEAT Works. These commercial activities fund workforce training while generating income.
4. Donations and Philanthropy: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting youth workforce development mission. SEAT Center is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization (Tax ID# 47-3946521).
5. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including Bites & Brews, Savor the Summer, Colliding Forces Impact Awards, and 10th Anniversary Celebration generate donations and sponsorship revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SEAT Center delivers workforce development and career training programs for out-of-school young adults ages 16-24 in the Capital Region of New York. Core offerings include YouthBuild (construction trades plus GED preparation and industry credentials), Build Up modules in Culinary, HVAC, Film, and Careers in Energy, NCCER Core Construction credentialing, and three social enterprises (Hattie's Culinary Lab, SEAT for Hire, SEAT Works) that provide real-world training and employment pipelines. wraparound support services (crisis intervention, emergency assistance, resource coordination) are integrated into all programs.

Product overview

SEAT Center operates as a multi-program workforce development organization offering a platform of training programs and social enterprises for young adults in the Capital Region. The core YouthBuild program provides construction trade and academic education, supported by specialized Build Up modules in Culinary, HVAC, Film, and Energy sectors. These training programs are reinforced through social enterprises including Hattie's Culinary Lab (culinary training restaurant), SEAT for Hire (alumni staffing service), and SEAT Works (construction projects), which provide real-world work experience. The portfolio also includes credential programs aligned with NCCER standards. All programs share the unified mission of preparing out-of-school young adults ages 16-24 for employment and higher education through paid training, industry credentials, and direct employer connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YouthBuild Schenectady: Primary workforce and education program for young adults in Schenectady County
• Build Up
• Hattie's Culinary Lab
• SEAT for Hire
• SEAT Works

Products and services

• YouthBuild Schenectady A workforce development program for young adults that combines construction trade training with academic education (GED preparation), leading to industry credentials and job placement. Operated as a National Direct AmeriCorps sub-grantee with primary funding from the US Department of Labor.
• Build Up Culinary Culinary arts training program that prepares students for careers in food service and hospitality, delivered through Hattie's Culinary Lab. Provides industry-recognized credentials and hands-on training in a commercial kitchen environment.
• Build Up HVAC Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technical training program providing students with industry-recognized credentials for careers in building systems.
• Build Up Film (Young Filmmakers) Filmmaking and media production training program for young adults, also known as the Young Filmmakers initiative.
• Build Up Careers in Energy Energy sector career training program preparing students for jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.
• Hattie's Culinary Lab A culinary training restaurant operated by SEAT students that serves as a real-world learning environment while providing catering services to the community. Operates as a social enterprise that generates revenue to support workforce training.
• SEAT for Hire A staffing/employment service that connects SEAT-trained graduates with employer partners seeking qualified entry-level workers.
• SEAT Works A construction and building services social enterprise providing paid training opportunities for program alumni through real construction projects.
• NCCER Core Construction Competencies & Career Training National Center for Construction Education and Research credential program providing foundational construction skills training with optional manufacturing credential add-on. Published tuition: $6,285.90 for NCCER Core; $7,000.98 with manufacturing credential add-on.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 graduates per cohort with job and/or college placement and industry credentials
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CEO (Community Economic Opportunities) in TroycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2019SEAT entered a formal agreement with CEO in Troy through a $1.1 million grant from the US Department of Labor to bring YouthBuild programming to Rensselaer County students, offering expanded wraparound support successful in Schenectady County.
• Rivers Casino & ResortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual event sponsor for Bites & Brews fundraiser, recipient of Spirit of Service Award (2019), and ongoing employer partner hiring SEAT graduates in hospitality sector.
• The Schenectady FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation providing funding and support; recipient of Community Partner Award (2019 Colliding Forces) for outstanding partnership supporting youth development initiatives.
• Capital Region BOCEScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner recipient of The Catalyst Award (2020) for career pathways support and educational partnership contributing to student success.
• Hattie's RestaurantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner for culinary program; recognized as Industry Leader in Culinary (2026); provides real-world training environment and employment pathways for graduates.
• MLB ConstructionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction industry partner recognized as Industry Leader in Construction (2026 10th Anniversary) for supporting workforce development in building trades.
• Crisafulli Bros.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy industry partner recognized as Industry Leader in Energy (2026 10th Anniversary) for supporting HVAC and energy career training.
• Dynamic EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community solar garden allowing supporters to go solar without panels, while funding SEAT's sustainability and energy programs and lowering National Grid bills.
• Apollo HeatingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner recipient of Employer of the Year (Small/Mid Sized) award (2019) for hiring YouthBuild graduates and supporting workforce pipeline.
• Precision Valve & AutomationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner recipient of Employer of the Year (Large) award (2019) for outstanding graduate hiring and employment commitment.
• Living ResourcesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner recipient of Employer of the Year award (2020) for employment opportunities provided to SEAT graduates.
• Carver CompaniesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor and host of SEAT's 10th Anniversary Event at Carver Companies Global HQ, 26 Corporate Circle, Albany.
• Schenectady Film CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia industry partner recognized as Industry Leader in Film & Media (2026) supporting film and media career training programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research): Credentialing body whose NCCER Core Construction curriculum SEAT delivers. Provides the industry-recognized certification stack that SEAT graduates earn and is therefore both an enabling partner and a standards body whose evolving requirements shape SEAT's curriculum.

Regional players

• Hudson Valley Community College: Local two-year college offering workforce and continuing education programs that overlap with SEAT's technical training. Athena Finch (SEAT Operations Liaison) is an HVCC alumnus, and the school competes for similar noncredit workforce training contracts in the Capital Region.
• Capital Region BOCES: Regional educational service provider recognized by SEAT with The Catalyst Award (2020). Provides career and technical education to similar age cohorts across the Capital Region, partially overlapping with SEAT's construction and culinary programs.

Direct peers

• YouthBuild USA: National umbrella for the YouthBuild network of which SEAT's YouthBuild Schenectady is a local affiliate. Operates the same construction-trades-plus-education model for opportunity youth ages 16-24 and competes for the same DOL YouthBuild appropriations.
• Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) Troy: Direct partner operating YouthBuild in Rensselaer County; prior employer of SEAT instructor Matt Rector. Competes for and collaborates with SEAT on the same population of out-of-school youth in the Capital Region.

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing skills training and corporate internships to young adults. Shares SEAT's mission of moving opportunity youth into living-wage employment but operates at national scale across multiple industries including tech and financial services.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology skills training to adults from low-income communities. Comparable workforce development structure (training + employer partnerships + wraparound support) but focused on IT rather than skilled trades.
• Job Corps: Federal residential job-training program for at-risk youth ages 16-24. Direct overlap with SEAT's age band and trades training, though Job Corps is residential and federally operated while SEAT is community-based and locally funded.
• Goodwill Industries of Northeastern New York: Regional Goodwill affiliate providing job training, placement, and community programs for individuals facing barriers to employment. Overlaps with SEAT on employment-readiness services in the Capital Region and competes for similar state workforce funding.

Emerging players

• Homeboy Industries: National model for wraparound support combined with social enterprise (cafes, bakery, merchandise) serving individuals re-entering society. Conceptually analogous to SEAT's combination of social enterprises (Hattie's Culinary Lab, SEAT Works) with wraparound crisis intervention.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SEAT-Center-Social-Enterprise-and-Training-Your-Connection-to-Career-Development-101474451865430
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/social-enterprise-and-training-seat-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/seatcenter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries7 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 SEAT Center (Social Enterprise and Training Center)