Afro Canadian Contractors Association

What Afro Canadian Contractors Association does

The Afro Canadian Contractors Association (ACCA) is a Toronto-headquartered, Canada-wide not-for-profit organization founded in 2021 by six business owners to advance the presence of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) contractors in the Canadian construction industry. ACCA operates a tiered membership model (Affiliate free, Associate $100/year, Gold $500/year, Platinum $1,000/year) that grants access to training programs, networking events, and referrals to general contractors and property managers. The association explicitly does not source or guarantee contracts for members; its value proposition is professional development, advocacy, and facilitated access to procurement opportunities.

ACCA's core product surface consists of four structured training programs delivered through institutional partnerships: the Turner Construction Management Certificate Program (since 2023, 9 weeks), George Brown College partnership programs including Entrepreneurship in Construction (since 2024) and Disaster Recovery, Painting 101 with Red Oak Painting (since June 2025, 4 weeks), and Project Ascend with Toronto Pearson (launched September 2025, 9 weeks on estimating and bidding). These are complemented by the eKnowledge Hub, a six-phase structured educational resource spanning Pre-Design through Warranty Period, and quarterly networking events anchored by the annual Bridging the Gap Gala. The organization runs on standard SaaS infrastructure (Stripe, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Eventbrite, WordPress) with no proprietary technology platform.

ACCA generates revenue through three streams: recurring membership subscription fees, corporate sponsorship and partnership contributions (Turner Construction, CIBC, EllisDon, Home Depot, Toronto Pearson, Govan Brown), and government funding (Employment Ontario, Government of Canada and Ontario). Distribution is direct via the accacan.com website, with no resellers or field sales motion. The go-to-market approach is community-led, relying on referrals, social media, media appearances, and event-driven engagement within the BIPOC contractor community, supplemented by partnerships with government agencies and corporations seeking to fulfill social procurement obligations.

Name

Afro Canadian Contractors Association

Legal name

Afro-Canadian Contractors Association (ACCA)

Website

https://accacan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Afro Canadian Contractors Association is a Toronto-based not-for-profit, founded in 2021 by six business owners, that supports BIPOC contractors across Canada through tiered membership, training programs, networking, and procurement referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction & General Labor Staffing (BPACAEAA), Contractor Onboarding, Vetting & Credentialing (BPACAGAC)

Keywords

• Construction industry association
• BIPOC contractor support
• Construction training programs
• Trade association membership
• Contractor networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ACCA generates revenue through tiered annual membership fees ranging from free Affiliate membership to $1,000/year for Platinum membership. These fees provide access to training programs, networking sessions, and referral opportunities for BIPOC contractors.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: The organization receives support from corporate sponsors including EllisDon, CIBC, Turner Construction, and others, which contributes to funding educational programs and operational costs.
3. Government Funding: ACCA partners with government agencies including Employment Ontario and the Government of Canada to fund training programs such as the George Brown College Entrepreneurship in Construction course.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Afro Canadian Contractors Association is a not-for-profit membership organization that provides BIPOC contractors and construction companies across Canada with access to training programs, networking events, educational resources (eKnowledge Hub), procurement support, and referrals. Membership is offered in four tiers (Affiliate free, Associate $100, Gold $500, Platinum $1,000 annually), unlocking access to specialized construction training such as the Turner Construction Management Certificate Program, Project Ascend, George Brown College Entrepreneurship programs, and Painting 101.

Product overview

The Afro Canadian Contractors Association (ACCA) is a membership-based not-for-profit organization that provides a platform of programs, resources, and networking opportunities for BIPOC contractors and construction companies across Canada. The core offering is its membership program with four tiers (Affiliate, Associate, Gold, Platinum) that provides access to training, bidding sessions, and business referrals. The product portfolio centers around the eKnowledge Hub as an educational backbone, supplemented by specialized training programs including Project Ascend (estimating and bidding), the Turner Construction Management Certificate Program, George Brown College partnership programs (Entrepreneurship in Construction, Disaster Recovery), and Painting 101. ACCA also provides procurement resources and organizes networking events including the Annual Bridging the Gap Gala. The organization connects members with industry stakeholders through its social procurement partnerships and facilitates access to government and corporate contracting opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Programs
• eKnowledge Hub
• Project Ascend
• Turner Construction Management Certificate Program
• ACCA George Brown College Programs
• Painting 101
• Procurement Resources
• Events and Networking Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Training programs in partnership with Turner Construction Canada, George Brown College, and Toronto Pearson have equipped BIPOC contractors with estimating, bidding, and project management skills

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Turner Construction CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2023 to deliver the Turner School of Construction Management certificate program. Turner established the program in 1969 to enhance economic viability of underrepresented business enterprises. The 9-week program prepares small, local, and diverse contractors for procurement opportunities in the Greater Toronto Area.
• George Brown CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop programs helping BIPOC contractors find their way in the construction industry. Programs include BYAP Entrepreneurship in Construction Course and Disaster Recovery course. Programs are free for selected participants through Employment Ontario funding.
• Toronto PearsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor of Project Ascend, a 9-week program designed to provide BIPOC contractors with essential estimating and bidding skills. The program blends hands-on skill-building with mentorship, networking, and ongoing support.
• Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACCA encourages all members to become certified minority-owned businesses with CAMSC to advocate and provide opportunities within Canada's minority-owned business community.
• Red Oak PaintingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Painting 101, a 4-week hands-on training course introducing participants to fundamentals of the painting trade. Leo Johnson, Founder and CEO of Red Oak Painting, serves as instructor.
• Proplanix Consulting Group Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining facilitator for Project Ascend estimating and bidding program. Neil Lowhar, Senior Consultant with over 20 years construction experience, serves as instructor.
• Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner working with ACCA to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the construction industry.
• Home DepotminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner providing support for BIPOC contractors in the construction industry.
• Government of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner funding programs including Employment Ontario initiatives. ACCA's George Brown College programs are funded in part by the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario.
• Afro Canadian Business Network (ACBN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting Black business community in Canada.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC): National certification council for minority-owned businesses in Canada; ACCA actively routes members to CAMSC certification, operating in the same minority-contractor ecosystem.
• Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN): Community coalition focused on equitable access to construction jobs and contracts in Toronto; ACCA lists TCBN as a core community partner addressing the same diverse-contractor mandate.
• Afro Canadian Business Network (ACBN): Community partner supporting the broader Black business community in Canada; ACCA lists ACBN as a partner organization addressing overlapping Afro-Canadian business audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Construction Association (CCA): National voice of the Canadian construction industry representing contractors broadly; provides the larger industry context in which ACCA operates and has featured ACCA in media coverage.
• LiUNA (Labourers' International Union of North America) Canadian Region: Major Canadian construction trades union with apprenticeship training infrastructure; comparable as a construction-skills development organization even though membership is union-based.
• Women's Business Enterprise Canada (WBE Canada): National WBE certification body for women-owned businesses; overlaps with ACCA's minority supplier certification and supplier-diversity advocacy mission.
• Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS): ICI construction sector liaison body supporting contractor training and workforce initiatives in Ontario; relevant peer given ACCA's Toronto-based contractor training focus.

Regional players

• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC): US-focused minority business development council that partners with CAMSC; provides an international reference point for ACCA's minority-contractor certification and supplier diversity model.

Emerging players

• BlackNorth Initiative: Canadian non-profit focused on anti-Black racism and Black talent development across industries including construction; overlaps with ACCA's Black-contractor advancement mandate.
• BuildTogether (Toronto): Toronto-based non-profit promoting diversity and inclusion in skilled construction trades; operates in adjacent contractor-development territory to ACCA's training programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/accacan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afro-canadian-contractors-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/accacann

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Afro Canadian Contractors Association