South Bay Vocational Center, Incorporated

What South Bay Vocational Center, Incorporated does

South Bay Vocational Center, Incorporated is a California-based nonprofit organization founded in 1952 (originally as Harbor Area Exceptional Children's Foundation) that provides vocational training, counseling, advocacy, and employment placement services for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities. Headquartered in Carson, California, the organization operates four facility locations across Carson and Harbor City and serves individuals across Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley. Its programs include the Work Activity Center, Supported Employment Program (SEP), Social Activity Program, Personal and Social Adjustment Program, In-Vision Program, and Community Outreach (Food Givers) program, all accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities).

The organization's core service is Community Employment Services, delivered through two models: Group Placement (employers pay a flat $32.00/hour rate for a team of three individuals plus one job coach, with Workers' Compensation and General Liability coverage included) and Individual Placement (job coaching provided free to employers, funded by government vocational rehabilitation contracts, with employers potentially eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit). The organization operates commercial product subsidiaries — Stuart Industries (picture frame hangers and framing hardware), South Bay Packaging (assembly and order fulfillment), and Mobile Car Cleaners (mobile vehicle detailing starting at $30/car) — which also serve as vocational training platforms.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of government-funded vocational rehabilitation contracts, employer placement fees, product sales via subsidiaries, mobile service fees, and donations (accepted via PayPal at preset tiers). The organization has no external institutional investors or parent company and is governed by a Board of Directors with executive leadership under President & CEO Corey Sylve. Named employer partners span retail (Ralphs, Lowes, Home Depot, Albertsons, Starbucks, Trader Joe's, IKEA, Food 4 Less, Sears), automotive (Nissan), food service (McDonald's, El Tapatio), healthcare (Harbor Free Clinic), government (DMV, U.S. Customs), and logistics (U-Haul), reflecting a broad placement network rather than concentrated employer relationships.

Name

South Bay Vocational Center, Incorporated

Legal name

South Bay Vocational Center, Incorporated

Website

https://www.sbvc1.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South Bay Vocational Center is a California-based nonprofit, founded in 1952, that provides vocational training, job coaching, and employment placement services for individuals with disabilities across four facilities in Carson and Harbor City, supplemented by product subsidiaries and government-funded contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM), Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Disability employment placement
• Supported employment programs
• Job coaching services
• Habilitation training

Headquarters

HQ city

Carson City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Vocational Training & Placement Services: South Bay Vocational Center earns revenue through government-funded contracts and service fees for its group placement program ($32.00 per hour per group of 4 workers) and individual placement services. Individual job coaching is provided to employers for free as part of the program, funded via government vocational rehabilitation contracts.
2. Mobile Car Cleaning Services: The organization generates revenue through its mobile car cleaning service, providing exterior washing, interior cleaning, waxing, and detailing at a rate starting at $30 per car. This service also serves as a vocational training program for individuals with disabilities.
3. Product Sales (Stuart Industries & South Bay Packaging): The organization operates product businesses including Stuart Industries (picture frame hangers, framing hardware & tools) and South Bay Packaging (general packaging, product assembly, order fulfillment), generating revenue through product sales.
4. Donations: South Bay Vocational Center accepts financial contributions from donors to support programs and services for individuals with disabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

South Bay Vocational Center is a nonprofit organization that provides vocational training, job coaching, counseling, advocacy, and employment placement services for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities. It operates community employment services (group placement at $32/hour for teams of 4 workers including a job coach, and individual placement with fading job coaching), a mobile car cleaning service ($30/car starting price), and commercial product lines including Stuart Industries (picture frame hardware) and South Bay Packaging (assembly and order fulfillment).

Product overview

South Bay Vocational Center is a nonprofit habilitation facility providing vocational training, counseling, advocacy, and employment placement services for individuals with disabilities. The organization operates a portfolio of commercial ventures and programs: three core product/service lines (South Bay Packaging for assembly and fulfillment, Stuart Industries for picture frame hardware manufacturing, and Mobile Car Cleaners for vehicle detailing), combined with Community Employment Services for job placement. Supporting modules include the In-Vision Program, U-Haul partnership program, Social Activity Program, Personal and Social Adjustment Program, Community Outreach (Food Givers) for food distribution, and a Donations program. The organization has evolved from a schoolhouse established in 1952 to a multi-location facility serving developmentally disabled individuals in the Los Angeles area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mobile Car Cleaners: Mobile car washing services including exterior washing, interior cleaning, waxing, and detailing, performed by skilled students under supervision of experienced instructors.
• Community Employment Services
• In-Vision Program

Products and services

• Community Employment Services Job development and placement services for individuals with disabilities, providing job coaching, performance evaluations, and individual development. Includes Group Placement ($32/hour for groups of 3 workers plus job coach) and Individual Placement (job coaching that fades over time, with tax incentives for employers). Targets individuals with disabilities and employer partners across Los Angeles County.
• Mobile Car Cleaners Mobile vehicle washing and detailing service offering exterior washing, interior cleaning, waxing, and detailing performed by students under instructor supervision, starting at $30 per car. Doubles as a vocational training program for individuals with disabilities.
• South Bay Packaging Provides general packaging, product assembly, and order fulfillment services for businesses. Operated by individuals with disabilities receiving vocational training.
• Stuart Industries Manufactures and retails picture frame hangers, framing hardware, and tools. A commercial venture operated as part of the organization's vocational programs.
• U-Haul for Hire Program Partnership program connecting individuals with disabilities to U-Haul employment positions, featuring accessible workspaces, assistive technologies, flexible work arrangements, and disability sensitivity training for U-Haul managers and employees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully placed individuals with disabilities at employers spanning Los Angeles County to the San Fernando Valley, including major national brands.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• U-HaulcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerU-Haul has a direct partnership with South Bay Vocational Center to hire individuals with disabilities for U-Haul positions. The partnership includes accessible workspaces, assistive technologies, and flexible work arrangements. South Bay Vocational Center provides disability sensitivity training to U-Haul managers and employees and helps connect disabled individuals to U-Haul during the application process.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Largest nonprofit vocational rehabilitation and workforce development organization in the U.S. Operates mission-driven commercial businesses (retail stores, staffing) and serves individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment—directly comparable mission, model, and venture structure to SBVC.
• SourceAmerica: National nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal contracts and AbilityOne program. Highly comparable to SBVC's vocational training and government-funded placement model, but at national scale.
• PRIDE Industries: Nonprofit that provides employment and vocational services for people with disabilities, operating commercial businesses (packaging, assembly, logistics) very similar to SBVC's South Bay Packaging and Stuart Industries ventures.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including vocational training, employment placement, and community-based programs. Directly comparable to SBVC's mission and supported employment offering, though at much broader scale.
• The Arc of the United States: National community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including vocational and employment supports. Comparable to SBVC's focus on developmentally disabled individuals and supported employment.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): Nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities through combined mission-driven manufacturing and government contracting. Comparable to SBVC's commercial venture model in Stuart Industries and South Bay Packaging.
• RISE Services: Nonprofit providing home and community-based services including supported employment and vocational programs for individuals with disabilities. Comparable to SBVC's supported employment and community employment services.

Direct peers

• Melwood: Regional nonprofit providing job training, employment placement, and supportive services for people with disabilities, including commercial businesses (landscaping, staffing, document destruction). Highly comparable model to SBVC's product ventures and placement programs.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: Nonprofit focused on creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including integrated employment programs. Comparable to SBVC's mission and individual placement programs but with a different operational focus.

Regional players

• AHRC New York City: Regional nonprofit providing services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including vocational training, employment placement, and day habilitation services. Similar model to SBVC but serving the New York metropolitan area.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-bay-vocational-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 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 South Bay Vocational Center, Incorporated