CLI

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.

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

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

• Developmental disability services
• Vocational habilitation programs
• Community employment supports
• Document destruction services
• Therapeutic day programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwalk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Miscellaneous Business Operations: 5% of budget from various business operations including Higher Grounds Coffee Shop and other miscellaneous revenue sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Huron County Community LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership 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 1199minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2017Co-sponsors of Christmas in July 5K event supporting Norwalk Firefighters Operation Warm, demonstrating community partnership for joint fundraising events.
• PPG Paints / PPG IndustriesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 September 2016PPG 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 LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Subsidiary 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary 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 DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer 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 EmployerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity 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 CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCLI is a member and active participant in the Huron County Chamber of Commerce, supporting economic growth and community development initiatives.
• Thomas Brick (Lakewood retailer)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partner offering cliTile ceramic and glass tile products to customers in the Lakewood area.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGTUwMT41Kb4CLLoZ3BL1Fg/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christie-lane-industries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 CLI