CLI
CLI is a private Norwalk, Ohio-based non-profit providing community-based vocational, habilitation, and therapeutic services to individuals with developmental disabilities, supported by social enterprises in document destruction, recycling, and a bowling center, with ~70% of revenue from Medicaid reimbursement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersNorwalk, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What CLI does
CLI (Community, Life & Innovation) is a private non-profit organization headquartered in Norwalk, Ohio, that provides employment, habilitation, and community-based services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Founded in the 1970s as Christie Lane Industries under the Huron County Board of Developmental Disabilities (HCBDD), the organization spun off as an independent entity at the end of 2015 and rebranded to CLI in 2018. Its core offering, branded as CLIMB Services, comprises 100% community-based programs — including vocational habilitation, community employment supports, therapeutic day programs, and transitional youth resources — customized to each client's vocational or non-work ambitions. Supporting these services is a portfolio of social enterprises operated through two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Firelands Local LLC (document destruction, recycling, courier service, and Higher Grounds Coffee Shop) and CLI Good Works LLC (Kenilee Lanes, an 8-lane bowling center). CLI also operates physical community facilities including 16 West Main Street (event/rental venue), 38 West Seminary Street (community space and administrative offices), and the Norwalk headquarters.
CLI generates revenue through a fee-for-service model with a disclosed budget mix of approximately 70% from Medicaid-reimbursed vocational and habilitation services, 20% from Firelands Local LLC's business-to-business services (document destruction, recycling, assembly, packaging), 5% from Kenilee Lanes bowling operations, and 5% from miscellaneous business operations. Its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer for service delivery (community events, newsletters, partnerships with 40+ local employers for community employment placement) and direct field sales for B2B services (NAID-accredited document destruction to 200+ customers including banks and hospitals). Under CEO John Schwartz, the organization has executed a strategic shift away from sheltered workshop direct employment toward community-integrated employment services, accelerated by a 2020 COVID-era pivot toward individual and small group community services. The operating model remains single-county (Huron County, Ohio), with no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, or geographic expansion signals beyond local facility investments.
CLI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CLI
- Legal name
- CLI (Community, Life & Innovation)
- Website
- https://clisupports.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- CLI is a private Norwalk, Ohio-based non-profit providing community-based vocational, habilitation, and therapeutic services to individuals with developmental disabilities, supported by social enterprises in document destruction, recycling, and a bowling center, with ~70% of revenue from Medicaid reimbursement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CLI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Services and Community Support
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)
Keywords
Where CLI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Norwalk
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
CLI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Medicaid-Funded Services: 70% of CLI's budget comes from providing vocational and habilitative services to individuals with developmental disabilities on a fee-for-service basis, reimbursed through federal Medicaid funds and state/county tax dollars.
- Firelands Local LLC Business Services: 20% of budget from business-to-business services including document destruction, recycling, assembly, packaging, inter-office courier service, and other contracted labor services provided by the subsidiary.
- Kenilee Lanes Operations: 5% of budget from operations of subsidiary CLI Good Works LLC (dba Kenilee Lanes), an 8-lane bowling center in Norwalk, Ohio.
- Miscellaneous Business Operations: 5% of budget from various business operations including Higher Grounds Coffee Shop and other miscellaneous revenue sources.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Fee-for-service model based on Medicaid reimbursement rates |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
CLI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CLI delivers community-based vocational, therapeutic, and habilitative services for individuals with developmental disabilities through its CLIMB Services umbrella, including Vocational Habilitation, Community Employment Supports, Therapeutic CLIMB, and Non-Vocational CLIMB programming. The organization also operates social enterprises through its subsidiary Firelands Local LLC providing NAID-accredited document destruction, document imaging, recycling, assembly, packaging, and courier services to area businesses.
Product overview
CLI (Community, Life & Innovation) is a private, non-profit organization offering a portfolio of services and social enterprises for people with developmental disabilities. The core offering is CLIMB Services—a set of 100% community-based programs customized to each client's vocational or non-work ambitions, including vocational habilitation, therapeutic day programs, and transitional youth resources. Supporting these services are multiple social enterprises operated through subsidiaries: Firelands Local LLC provides direct employment through document destruction, recycling, courier services, Kenilee Lanes bowling center, and Higher Grounds Coffee Shop; CLI Good Works LLC operates Kenilee Lanes. CLI also runs community facilities (16 West Main Street, 38 West Seminary) and creative programs like Artists' Open Studio. The organization generates revenue through fee-for-service Medicaid billing (70% of budget), business-to-business services (20%), bowling operations (5%), and miscellaneous business operations (5%).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CLIMB Services
- Document Destruction Service
- Document Imaging Service
- Small Business Recycling Program
- cliTile
- Kenilee Lanes Bowling Center Community bowling center with bowling leagues, open bowling, party bookings, and seasonal accessibility offerings. The facility features wheelchair-accessible ramps and equipment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 80 workers with disabilities employed through Firelands Local LLC
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CLI
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CLI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CLI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Huron County Community LibraryminorPartnership where CLI Giving Hands volunteers donated soap sales proceeds to purchase adaptive toys for children with Sensory Processing Disorder. Library received LSTA grant funding for additional adaptive toys.
- Norwalk Firefighters IAFF Local 1199minorCo-sponsors of Christmas in July 5K event supporting Norwalk Firefighters Operation Warm, demonstrating community partnership for joint fundraising events.
- PPG Paints / PPG IndustriesminorPPG Colorful Communities program where CLI provided transportation for PPG volunteers to paint the Edison Birthplace Museum. CLI delivered volunteers and supported the community revitalization project.
- Firelands Local LLCcoreSubsidiary company created by CLI to provide direct employment opportunities for people with disabilities through contracted labor in area companies and various enterprise operations including document destruction, recycling, bowling alley, and coffee shop.
- CLI Good Works LLC (dba Kenilee Lanes)coreSubsidiary operating an 8-lane bowling center in Norwalk, Ohio. Part of CLI's strategy to provide employment opportunities and community recreational resources.
- Huron County Board of Developmental DisabilitiescoreFormer parent organization that CLI spun off from at the end of 2015. CLI continues to partner with HCBDD as a referral source and community partner.
- 40+ Local EmployerscoreCommunity employers providing competitive employment opportunities for CLI clients. Services include job placement, training, transportation coordination, and workers compensation coverage through Firelands Local LLC.
- Huron County Chamber of CommerceminorCLI is a member and active participant in the Huron County Chamber of Commerce, supporting economic growth and community development initiatives.
- Thomas Brick (Lakewood retailer)minorRetail distribution partner offering cliTile ceramic and glass tile products to customers in the Lakewood area.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CLI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CLI social profiles
Digital presenceCLI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CLI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CLI subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
CLI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CLI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CLI
What does CLI do?
CLI delivers community-based vocational, therapeutic, and habilitative services for individuals with developmental disabilities through its CLIMB Services umbrella, including Vocational Habilitation, Community Employment Supports, Therapeutic CLIMB, and Non-Vocational CLIMB programming. The organization also operates social enterprises through its subsidiary Firelands Local LLC providing NAID-accredited document destruction, document imaging, recycling, assembly, packaging, and courier services to area businesses.
Is CLI a public or private company?
CLI is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CLI founded?
CLI was founded in 1970.
Where is CLI based?
CLI is headquartered in Norwalk, United States, in the North America region.
How does CLI make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Medicaid-Funded Services are the primary driver. The others are firelands Local LLC Business Services, kenilee Lanes Operations and miscellaneous Business Operations.
Does CLI have an API?
No public API is recorded for CLI.
What industry is CLI in?
CLI's product category is Disability Services and Community Support. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech). Its NAICS code is 62431 and its SIC code is 8300.