community inclusion society

What community inclusion society does

Community Inclusion Society, operating as Community Inc., is a not-for-profit employment services organization founded in March 2001 in Nova Scotia, Canada, originally as Valley Disability Partnership Society and renamed in 2008 to reflect a broader inclusion mandate. The organization delivers free employment programs to job seekers and employers in Kings County and West Hants County under two primary government contracts: Nova Scotia Works (funded by the NS Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration) and the Edge youth employment program (funded by the NS Department of Community Services). It is one of 17 organizations province-wide authorized to deliver Nova Scotia Works.

Core programming includes Nova Scotia Works (career planning, job search, job matching, employer recruitment support, wage incentives), the Edge program for youth ages 18-26 (life skills, job search training, mental wellness support, mentorship), Spotlight on Employment (six-week group-based job search program), Self Employment Benefits support, and the Back to Work: Valley Partnerships COVID-recovery program. Documented outcomes include 2,500+ people placed in employment, 300+ entrepreneurs supported, 400+ individuals supported in returning to school, and 450+ positions funded through wage incentives. The organization operates three physical locations (Kentville NS Works, Windsor NS Works, Edge Kentville) and serves an employer base that includes Atlantic Superstore Kingston, Wolfville Farmers Market, and small businesses such as Essentially English Bakery.

The business model is government-funded professional services delivery: all programs are free to job seekers and employers, with revenue derived from provincial government grants under multi-year program authorizations. No proprietary technology stack is described; service delivery relies on conventional case management and career counseling tools. Community Inc does not have a commercial revenue stream, no disclosed funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no out-of-province operations, making it a regionally-bounded, government-contract-dependent nonprofit.

Name

community inclusion society

Legal name

Community Inclusion Society

Website

https://communityinc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Community Inclusion Society (Community Inc.) is a Nova Scotia not-for-profit that delivers free government-funded employment programs — including Nova Scotia Works and Edge — to job seekers and employers in Kings and West Hants Counties, with a focus on persons with disabilities and youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Employment Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

Keywords

• Employment services
• Disability employment
• Youth employment
• Job matching
• Career counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Middleton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Program Funding: Community Inc receives funding from provincial government departments to deliver employment programming. The NS Works program is funded by the NS Department of Labour Skills and Immigration. The Edge program is funded by the NS Department of Community Services. The organization operates as a nonprofit with these government grants as its primary revenue source.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Inclusion Society delivers free, government-funded employment programs for job seekers and employers in Kings County and West Hants County, Nova Scotia. Core offerings include the Nova Scotia Works Employment Services Centre (career planning, job searching, employer recruitment support), the Edge youth employment program (ages 18-26), Spotlight on Employment (six-week group-based job search support), and Self Employment Benefits assistance for entrepreneurs. Employer-facing services include wage incentives, job matching, and ongoing job coaching.

Product overview

Community Inclusion Society (Community Inc) is a not-for-profit organization offering a portfolio of employment programs for job seekers and employers in Kings County and West Hants County, Nova Scotia. The core offerings include the Nova Scotia Works Employment Services Centre providing career planning, job search support, and employer recruitment assistance; the Edge Program for youth ages 18-26 offering employment skills training; and the Spotlight on Employment six-week group job search program. Additional services include Self Employment Benefits support for business creation, wage incentives for employers, job matching, job coaching, and career/job fair coordination. The organization maintains physical locations in Kentville and Windsor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nova Scotia Works Employment Services Centre helping Nova Scotia employers with recruitment, planning, and HR support while assisting people with career planning, job searching, and on-the-job development. Free service for both job seekers and employers.
• Edge Program Youth employment program offering one-on-one and group training in life, job search, and key employment skills for young adults ages 18-26, designed by youth for youth.
• Spotlight on Employment Six-week group-based job search support program that continues to work with participants until employment is found, followed by ongoing check-ins.
• Self Employment Benefits Program Provincially funded program helping individuals access financial support and training to start their own businesses.
• Back to Work: Valley Partnerships Year-long program addressing needs of local job seekers and industry affected by Covid-19.
• Wage Incentives Program Financial assistance programs providing employers with wage subsidies to hire new employees.
• Job Matching Services Matching available job seekers with required skills to employer job vacancies through Job Developers and Employment Engagement Specialists.
• Job Coaching Support Job coaching and employment maintenance support for new employees needing extra training or support to learn their role.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2500+ people placed in new employment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MetroWorksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Original Edge program partner in Halifax. In 2021, the Edge program expanded to include new sites including Sydney, New Glasgow, Bridgewater, and another Halifax location.
• Nova Scotia Department of Community ServicescoreOthers · 1 January 2018Provincial government department that funds the Edge youth employment program. Community Inc partnered with the Portal in 2018 to deliver one of the first Edge programs in the province.
• The PortalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Community Inc partnered with the Portal in 2018 to offer one of the two first Edge programs in the province. The partnership delivers youth employment programming (ages 18-26) through a collaborative model.
• Nova Scotia Department of Labour Skills and ImmigrationcoreOthers · 1 January 2015Provincial government department that funds the Nova Scotia Works employment services program delivered by Community Inc in Kings and West Hants Counties.
• Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association (VANSDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015NS Works partner in the valley region. Community Inc offers its NS Works site in Kentville alongside VANSDA. Both organizations serve the Annapolis Valley region with coordinated services.
• PeopleWorxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNS Works partner offering centres in Coldbrook, Middleton and Annapolis Royal. Community Inc works collaboratively with all valley region NS Works organizations to serve the region.
• Hants Kings CBDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness counselling partner that worked with Kate to develop her business plan and access Self Employment Benefits program for starting Essentially English Bakery.
• Atlantic Superstore KingstonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner that has successfully hired employees through the NS Works program. Praised the program for providing rewarding hiring experiences and equal treatment for all employees.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• The Portal Youth Employment Program (MetroWorks): Partner organization that co-founded the Edge youth employment program with Community Inc in 2018. Operates the original Edge site in Halifax and has expanded the model to additional sites across Nova Scotia.
• VANSDA (Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association): Direct peer in the Nova Scotia Works network serving the Annapolis Valley region. Both organizations deliver NS Works programming out of the Kentville site and coordinate on community-based employment services for marginalized populations.
• PeopleWorx: Direct peer NS Works provider operating centres in Coldbrook, Middleton, and Annapolis Royal. Delivers the same provincial NS Works employment services model in adjacent counties with the same government funding structure.

Broad incumbents

• JVS Toronto: Established Canadian nonprofit employment services provider delivering vocational rehabilitation, immigrant employment services, and youth employment programs. Comparable in mission and service model but operates in a larger urban market (Ontario).
• YMCA Employment Services (Nova Scotia): Broader incumbent providing government-funded employment services across Nova Scotia, including newcomer employment, youth programs, and disability employment. Operates at significantly larger scale than Community Inc.
• Goodwill Industries of Nova Scotia: Broader nonprofit employment services provider in Nova Scotia offering workforce development, training, and social enterprise programs. Comparable in mission (inclusive employment) but operates at greater scale across multiple service lines.
• March of Dimes Canada: National nonprofit providing employment services, accessibility programs, and stroke recovery services. Directly comparable on disability employment focus and vocational rehabilitation service delivery.

Emerging players

• Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW): National nonprofit focused on disability employment and workplace inclusion. Comparable in specialized disability employment expertise and offers similar employer-side services to Community Inc.
• COSTI Immigrant Services: Canadian nonprofit providing employment services with a strong focus on immigrant and refugee workforce integration. Comparable in employment services model and government funding model, with overlap in client demographics (underrepresented populations).

Others

• United Way Halifax Region: Regional nonprofit funder and community partner often co-investing in employment and social service programs. Less direct overlap in service delivery but adjacent in the nonprofit ecosystem serving Kings County and the broader Nova Scotia region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityIncKentville
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-inclusion-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about community inclusion society