What does

The Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois (FCAI) is a non-profit trade association headquartered in Aurora, Illinois that serves as the recognized collective bargaining representative and industry body for union painting, glazing, and drywall finishing contractors across the state. The association's member base exceeds 120 contractor companies, supplemented by associate members (paint manufacturers, equipment suppliers, insurers, service providers) who access the contractor network through the organization. Operating under the FCA International umbrella and affiliated with the North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute (NCIFTI) for apprenticeship training, FCAI negotiates labor agreements, advocates on legislative and regulatory matters (Paid Leave Act, Prevailing Wage SB1344, OSHA rules), and administers member benefit programs.

FCAI's core offerings are member services rather than a technology platform: a searchable Find-a-Contractor directory with 113+ member listings, the Larry Nedrow Scholarship Fund (established 1992, having awarded $688,250 to 591 students, with $44,000 to 22 students in 2025), safety training and compliance resources (HAZCOM, silica exposure, OSHA manuals, toolbox talks, webinars), educational seminars on project management, workers' compensation, HR, and withdrawal liability, and benefit-fund administration. As of September 2024, the association reported approximately $468.9 million in pension fund assets under management across pension, health and welfare, RSP, and MRA funds. In February 2026 FCAI launched an Association Health Insurance Program developed from a member feasibility study.

The association's business model is membership-dues driven (subscription/recurring) on both contractor and associate tiers, supplemented by event income (Central Chapter Golf Outing, Scholarship Night, Community Cares Night, holiday parties), training program fees, directory exposure, and benefit-fund administration. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; prospective members are directed to contact the FCAI office. Marketing is conducted via a website (fcaofillinois.org), Constant Contact email, SMS notifications, and social media on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Vimeo. Governance is via a Board and Staff structure led by Executive Director Mark Palmer and Board President Bob.

Legal name

Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois

Website

https://fcaofillinois.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois is a non-profit trade association that serves as the collective bargaining representative and member services body for 120+ union painting, glazing, and drywall finishing contractors across Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services - Construction Finishing Trades

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Building Finishing Contractors (2383), Other Specialty Trade Contractors (2389)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPACANAK

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Training, Learning & Development Services

SECONDARYEDAAAOAE

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Union contractor representation
• Collective bargaining services
• Workforce training programs
• Construction industry advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: FCAI generates revenue through annual membership dues from contractor members and associate members. Contractor members gain access to collective bargaining representation, training resources, safety programs, and a searchable contractor directory. Associate members (suppliers, manufacturers) join to access the contractor network.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois is a non-profit trade association that represents union-signatory painting, glazing, and drywall finishing contractors across Illinois. It sells membership-based services including collective bargaining representation with local unions, multi-employer health, pension, and welfare benefit administration, safety and workforce training, scholarship funding, a public Find-a-Contractor directory, and industry advocacy before owners, general contractors, and government bodies.

Product overview

The Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois (FCAI) is a trade association representing union painting, glazing, and drywall finishing contractors across Illinois. Rather than offering a technology product platform, FCAI provides member services including educational programs and seminars, safety training and compliance resources, a contractor database for member referrals, legislative updates, health insurance programs, and scholarship funding through the Larry Nedrow Scholarship Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Association Membership (Contractor and Associate)

Quantifiable outcome

• 591 students have received $688,250 in scholarship aid since 1992 through the Larry Nedrow Scholarship Fund
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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 core and minor.

• FCA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCA International is the national federation that FCAI of Illinois is affiliated with. FCA International provides model safety programs, legislative advocacy at the federal level, and industry standards that state associations like FCAI implement locally. FCAI participates in national initiatives including opposition to the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act.
• IMSCA (Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMSCA is a key legislative partner providing construction industry advocacy in Illinois. FCAI shares legislative updates from IMSCA with members regarding issues including the SAFE-T Act, Unemployment Trust Fund, Paid Leave for All Workers Act, prevailing wage requirements, and procurement code changes.
• FCA of ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCA of Chicago is a related chapter organization covering the Chicago metropolitan area, operating under the same FCA International umbrella as FCAI.
• North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute (NCIFTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCIFTI manages the apprenticeship program for painters/decorators, industrial painters, drywall finishers, and glaziers in the region. FCAI's Norm Hankes Award is presented at the NCIFTI apprentice graduation ceremony, highlighting the partnership in workforce development.
• PaintCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaintCare is a paint recycling program that FCAI promotes to members as part of environmental compliance resources. FCAI hosted an Illinois PaintCare Program Webinar to educate members on paint recycling requirements.
• Corrosion IllinoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorrosion Illinois is a related industry organization covering corrosion prevention and coating applications. Listed as a resource partner on FCAI's website.
• Project First RateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject First Rate is listed as a resource partner on FCAI's website, providing industry certification and standards resources for finishing contractors.
• Tri-Council Development FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-Council Development Fund is a labor-management partnership fund supporting training and development for the finishing trades in Illinois.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FCA of Chicago: FCA of Chicago is a sister chapter of the same Finishing Contractors Association network operating in the Chicago metropolitan area under the FCA International umbrella, directly comparable to FCAI as a regional finishing trade association in Illinois.
• FCA International: FCA International is the national federation of which FCAI is a state chapter, providing model safety programs, federal legislative advocacy, and industry standards. It is the apex peer for FCAI's category of union finishing trade associations.
• Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA): PDCA is the national trade association for painting and decorating contractors, directly comparable to FCAI as a peer organization serving the same core trade (union and non-union painting contractors) with overlapping training, safety, and advocacy services.
• Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI): AWCI is a national trade association for wall and ceiling contractors including drywall finishing, plastering, and acoustics, directly comparable to FCAI for the drywall finishing portion of its membership and overlapping education/standards mission.
• Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA): IMSCA is a state-level Illinois construction trade association providing legislative advocacy on prevailing wage, the SAFE-T Act, and procurement code, directly comparable to FCAI as a peer Illinois construction trade body sharing overlapping policy and advocacy priorities.
• NIPDI (National Institute of Painting and Decorating Industries): NIPDI is listed as an affiliated organization on FCAI's own website, directly comparable as a national-level finishing trade industry body serving painting and decorating contractors with overlapping training and standards functions.

Regional players

• Tri-Council Development Fund: Tri-Council Development Fund is an Illinois labor-management partnership supporting training and development for finishing trades, comparable to FCAI as a regional Illinois finishing-trade organization with overlapping workforce development scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/fcaofillinois
• YouTubevimeo.com/fcai
• Facebookfacebook.com/fcaofillinois
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/finishing-contractors-association-of-illinois

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 →

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