New Goodwill Flagship Store and Prosperity Center to Help Low-Income Residents Achieve Economic Stability
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Goodwill Industries – Big Bend, Inc. today broke ground on a new flagship store and announced the creation of a new Prosperity Center to help low-income adults move toward a sustaining wage and income stability– a first-of-its-kind initiative in our area.
As a not-for-profit, Goodwill channels the money made from sales of donated goods into its core mission: Providing job training and employment to residents who most struggle to find employment and affordable housing for people with disabilities. Fred Shelfer, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries – Big Bend, Inc., said the new store will allow Goodwill to process and sell more donations and put more people to work, while the Prosperity Center will help residents improve their employability, enhance their financial literacy and better manage their personal finances.
“When you donate items you no longer need to Goodwill, you are helping someone find a job and making your community stronger,” Shelfer said. “With the opening of the new Prosperity Center, we can meet more of the needs of our neighbors who struggle the most to finally achieve financial self-sufficiency and stability.”
Goodwill today broke ground on a new 15,000 square-foot building that will be located at the corner of Pensacola and Mabry streets.
The new facility will allow Goodwill to convert the old store and processing area, also located on Mabry Street, into a new Prosperity Center. Visitors to the Prosperity Center will receive an evaluation of emergency needs, intensive budget analysis, development of specific income goals, financial literacy training and ongoing financial guidance on site.
The new Prosperity Center is the result of a contracted partnership between Goodwill and the City of Tallahassee. All services offered at the center will be free to Tallahassee residents and will provide financial education and financial advising to people that come from all walks of life and all income levels.
Prosperity Planners will assist people to achieve success in a variety of areas including:
• Getting a job and/or developing a career plan to get a better job
• Providing access to training and education programs for themselves or their children
• Creating a personalized financial plan including budgeting, debt reduction, savings and investments
• Accessing financial services to develop savings and assets
• Connecting people with housing programs
• Connecting people with income supports and tax assistance
“Here in the City of Tallahassee we take great pride in being good neighbors and doing all that we can to assist those who are in need. I truly believe this type of generosity and care is what sets our city apart as one of the best in the state and the nation,” said Tallahassee Mayor John Marks. “The Prosperity Center is yet another example of what we can do, united in our efforts, to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens.”
Goodwill Industries-Big Bend, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit; Goodwill’s mission is to provide job training, education, and employment to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, helping them reach their fullest potential in supporting themselves and their families. Goodwill also provides barrier-free apartment complexes in which people with disabilities can live independently.
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