The SOD Center

What The SOD Center does

The SOD Center (Sustainable Opportunity Development Center) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization headquartered in Salem, Ohio, serving Columbiana County and the broader Appalachian region of eastern Ohio. Founded around 2009 and operating with a small team of 1–10 employees, the Center functions as a multi-purpose community development intermediary combining economic development services, workforce training, commercial real estate support, and public/private financing assistance. Its core offerings include the SOD Training Center for soft-skills and professional development, the SOD Technical Training Center (opened December 2023 with a $700,000 capital investment) for industrial and technical skills, The CAVE team-development program, a commercial real estate and brokerage function, and member-driven business attraction and retention services. Over five years the Center has trained more than 3,000 individuals and served 120+ employers.

The Center's revenue model is diversified across four streams: tiered membership fees ranging from $150 to $5,000 per year, training center room rentals priced between $40 and $350 per day, individual training courses priced between $150 and $1,194, and grants/donations from philanthropic and public sources (including a $20K Association of Ohio Commodores Foundation grant and Appalachian Community Grant flows). Customer segments include local manufacturers, regional employers, workforce-development trainees, and public-sector partners — anchored by formal relationships with JobsOhio, Lake to River Economic Development, the Youngstown Business Incubator, the City of Salem, and Columbiana County. Place-based outcomes are tangible: a 77% reduction in downtown business vacancies and Salem's rise from 84th to 12th in Site Selection's top U.S. micropolitan rankings.

The Center's broader strategic direction is to expand its technical-training footprint (3D printing via YBI, computer lab additions, Rising Tides Program for manufacturers) and to deepen its role as the convening economic development body for the region through partnerships, joint ventures such as Elevate Building Solutions, LLC, and incremental organizational buildout. Its competitive position is grounded in its nonprofit status, government and philanthropic funding access, and physical infrastructure rather than in proprietary technology. No AI/ML capabilities are evident in the input data.

Name

The SOD Center

Legal name

Sustainable Opportunity Development Center, Inc.

Website

https://sodcenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The SOD Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization in Salem, Ohio that provides workforce training, technical training, commercial real estate services, and public/private financing assistance to local employers, manufacturers, and job seekers across Columbiana County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Workforce training programs
• Business retention services
• Commercial real estate services
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership contributions at tiered levels: Investor ($5,000), Contributor ($2,500), Advocate ($1,250), Supporter ($500), Friend ($150). Provides business networking, marketing exposure, training discounts, and board eligibility.
2. Training Center Facility Rentals: Rental revenue from training rooms: Large Training Area (capacity 70-100) at $175 half-day / $350 full-day; Farmers National Bank Training Room (capacity 10) at $40 half-day / $80 full-day; Technical Training Center (capacity 24) at $100 half-day / $200 full-day. Members receive 20% discount.
3. Training Courses and Workshops: Professional development and certification courses including NC3 certifications, leadership development, technical skills, and workforce training. Course fees vary (e.g., Strategic Succession Planning $350 member/$420 non-member; AC/DC Certification $995 member/$1194 non-member).
4. Grants and Donations: Grant funding from organizations such as Association of Ohio Commodores Foundation ($20,000 workforce development grant) and Appalachian Community Grant Funding through UTICA Shale Academy for Technical Training Center expansion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The SOD Center provides economic development services, workforce training programs, and business resources for employers and entrepreneurs in the Salem, Ohio and Columbiana County region. Core services include professional and technical certification training (NC3 certifications, TechCred courses), commercial real estate and site selection assistance, public and private sector financing navigation, business retention and expansion support, and entrepreneurship resources delivered through a tiered membership model.

Product overview

The SOD Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization offering a portfolio of workforce development and business support services. The core offerings include the SOD Training Center (general workforce training) and SOD Technical Training Center (technical/trade training in AC/DC, PLC, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Robotics, and Motor Drives), both offering room rental options. Additional services include The CAVE Team Development Workshop for team building, Commercial Real Estate Services, Public and Private Sector Financing assistance, the Dean Hansell Training Award scholarship, Rising Tides manufacturing support program, and 3D Printing Training using UltiMaker technology. The organization serves businesses, industries, and individuals in Salem, Ohio and the broader Columbiana County region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOD Training Center: Regional resource for businesses, industries, and organizations seeking professional workforce development solutions, offering flexible space for employee training, professional development programs, workshops, meetings, and educational events.
• SOD Technical Training Center
• Elevate Building Solutions
• The CAVE
• Dean Hansell Training Award

Products and services

• SOD Training Center Regional workforce development facility providing professional training, workshops, certifications, and meeting space for businesses, industries, and organizations in the Salem, Ohio area.
• SOD Technical Training Center Technical training facility offering courses in AC/DC, PLC, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Robotics, and Motor Drives, targeting entry-level employees, upskilling incumbent workforce, and student programs.
• The CAVE Team Development Workshop Team building workshop using assessments, survival scenarios, and facilitated discussion to evaluate group functioning, develop problem-solving skills, and improve team communication. Best suited for teams of 4-10 individuals.
• SOD Training Center Room Rental Facility rental service offering flexible training room configurations with modern technology for businesses, industries, and organizations. Includes SOD Training Area (capacity 70-100), Farmers National Bank Training Room (capacity 10), and Technical Training Center (capacity 24).
• Commercial Real Estate Services Site selection and commercial property listing services for businesses looking to locate or expand in Salem, Ohio, including access to properties through Lake to River Economic Development partnership.
• Private Sector Financing Assistance Business financing navigation including growth capital, real estate and equipment funding, receivables and inventory funding, research and development funding, startup funding, and working capital through local banking partners.
• Public Sector Financing Assistance Government incentive program navigation including City of Salem incentives (TIF, CRA Tax Abatement, Job Creation Incentive), Columbiana County programs, State of Ohio programs (Ohio 3rd Frontier, 166 Direct Loan), JobsOhio programs, and SBA financing options.
• Dean Hansell Training Award Scholarship program providing education funding for Salem High School graduates accepted into vocational, technical, or credential programs in fields such as advanced manufacturing, automotive technology, construction, healthcare, and welding.
• Rising Tides Program Workforce support program for manufacturers providing workshops, seminars, online courses, and networking opportunities in collaboration with Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI).
• 3D Printing Training (UltiMaker) Hands-on additive manufacturing training using UltiMaker 3D printer, offering one-hour sessions for manufacturers to learn about customization, rapid prototyping, and 3D printing technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ individuals trained representing 120+ employers over 5 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UTICA Shale AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2023SOD Center was subrecipient of Appalachian Community Grant Funding through UTICA Shale Academy award 'Connecting Communities Through Workforce Training' enabling $700K Technical Training Center expansion.
• City of SalemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2023Partnership with City of Salem and Columbiana to establish Elevate Building Solutions, LLC for commercial building permit services, supporting efficient permit process for commercial construction needs.
• Columbiana CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2023Partnership with City of Salem and Columbiana County for Elevate Building Solutions commercial building department services.
• Lake to River Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial economic development region in Eastern Ohio spanning from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Lake to River provides comprehensive commercial property database for office, retail, industrial, and development opportunities throughout the region.
• Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI)coreTechnology or IntegrationYBI generously provided Ultimaker 3D printer for additive manufacturing training at SOD Center, supporting hands-on education in 3D printing technology.
• JobsOhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development organization providing growth fund loans, revitalization grants, economic development grants, inclusion grants, and workforce grants for Ohio businesses.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Team NEO: Regional economic development organization serving Northeast Ohio, focused on business attraction, expansion, and workforce development across a 22-county region that overlaps with SOD Center's territory.
• Appalachian Partnership, Inc. Regional economic development organization covering Appalachian Ohio counties including Columbiana, providing workforce and business support services at a broader geographic scale.
• JobsOhio: State-level economic development organization providing growth fund loans, revitalization grants, and workforce grants across Ohio, offering overlapping but much broader capabilities than SOD Center's regional focus.

Direct peers

• Youngstown Business Incubator: Regional innovation and workforce partner in Youngstown, Ohio, providing business incubation, technology training (including 3D printing access provided to SOD Center), and employer services in the same northeastern Ohio market.
• Mahoning County Career and Technical Center: Regional technical training institution adjacent to SOD Center's territory, offering similar workforce certifications and trades training for manufacturing and industrial employers in northeastern Ohio.
• Columbiana County Career and Technical Center: Local technical training institution serving the same Columbiana County region with similar workforce training programs in industrial trades, directly overlapping with the SOD Technical Training Center's course catalog and target employer base.
• Eastern Gateway Community College: Community college serving eastern Ohio with workforce and technical training programs, competing for the same employer training dollars and individual student enrollment in the Ohio Valley region.
• Lake to River Economic Development: Regional economic development organization serving eastern Ohio, providing commercial real estate services and site selection assistance in the same geographic territory, and listed as an SOD Center strategic partner.
• Western Reserve Port Authority: Regional economic development and port authority serving northeastern Ohio with similar business attraction, retention, and workforce development functions for local employers.

Others

• National Center for Manufacturing Education (NC3): National certification body that issues the NC3 certifications offered through SOD Center's technical training programs; acts as an enabling partner and ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrlf_cUwUAMOVCrklFduGdA
• Facebookfacebook.com/salemsodcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-opportunity-development-center-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/sodcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 The SOD Center