National consumer credit counseling agency Money Management International will merge with Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions, the company announced Wednesday. The Sugar Land-based MMI will keep its headquarters at 14141 Hwy. 59, where it leases about 25,000 square feet of office space, according to Jim Triggs, senior vice president of counseling. Clearpoint, an Atlanta-based regional counseling agency, operates 28 offices throughout the southeastern U.S., according to information on Guidestar.com, which provides data on nonprofit organizations. The company has 235 employees and while some Clearpoint positions could be moved to the Sugar Land headquarters, Triggs said he could not provide specifics. MMI President and CEO Ivan Hand will serve the new company in that capacity while Clearpoint CEO Christopher Honenberger will retire this year, according to the statement. Drop in demand sparks merger One of the main driving forces behind the merger was an industry-wide drop off in demand for credit counseling services in the years following the financial crisis, Triggs said. Both companies are classified as 501(c)(3) nonprofits and are tax exempt. They provide credit card debt restructuring, along with counseling and education about various types of debt, such as mortgages and student loans. MMI and Clearpoint charge fees to their clients and also receive a portion of what they collect from the credit card companies. Both companies have seen their revenue drop in recent years, according to tax documents. MMI’s revenue dropped from $105.6 million in 2010 to $52.3 million in 2014, while Clearpoint’s revenue dropped from $40.7 million in 2010 to $28.2 million in 2014. A considerable portion of both companies’ income is from the government, according to tax documents. Clearpoint received $7.9 million in government grants in 2014, while MMI received $9.6 million in 2014. “Through the last several years, there’s been less of need for services our agencies provide,” Triggs said. The companies bring a combined $89 million in assets to the new entity, according to tax documents. MMI also owns Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Southern New England, which is based in Massachusetts.