Goodwill Industries talks Metro Detroit Job Creation and Return to Retail

This Comcast Newsmakers segment discusses the creation of Detroit area jobs, the fight against Southeast Michigan unemployment and the fall 2010 opening of the region's first true Goodwill retail store in a decade. The featured guest in the interview airing during August 2010 is Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit Vice President of New Business Development Lindsay Chalmers. Chalmers discusses Goodwill's mission as the only organization solely dedicated to the fight against Metro Detroit unemployment and plans for a return to retail with the expected fall 2010 opening of a flagship store in Canton, Michigan. The opening of the store is expected to create more than 20 new jobs for the region and Goodwill currently has opening for a store manager and assistant store manager to lend their experience to the operation. For details, or to apply, visit http://www.goodwilldetroit.org.
Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit recently announced Art Van Furniture has donated a 26-foot truck to help the nonprofit organization open its flagship upscale retail store in Canton, Mich. Scheduled to open in October 2010, the 17,000 square-foot store located at 41905 Ford Road will be the first retail location operated by Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit in Southeast Michigan since 2000.

Branded with Goodwill "Donate for Jobs" messaging, the truck donated by Art Van, Michigan's largest furniture retailer, will enable Goodwill to collect and transport goods donated from across Metro Detroit. The goods will later be sold at the Canton flagship retail location to support Goodwill's efforts to help Metro Detroiters overcome employment challenges and become "Trained, Trusted and Ready to Work." Madison Heights, Mich.-based 11 Mile Truck Frame & Axle donated initial truck maintenance and painting services.

Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit expects its flagship store to generate approximately $1 million in revenue in the first year. Proceeds from the store will fund local Goodwill employment training, education and support programs. Featuring upscale boutique clothing and other donated goods, the store will be modeled after the nation's two most successful Goodwill retail locations in Indianapolis and Portland, Ore.

"Leading the way in the fight against Metro Detroit unemployment means not just training local people for jobs, but building businesses that will create those jobs for the Detroit area," said President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit Lorna G. Utley. "Art Van's donation will be critical to our success as we grow our Southeast Michigan retail presence to drive local job creation and fund Goodwill employment training and education programs."

Initially, the Canton store will create 23 jobs for Southeast Michigan. Goodwill intends to look at recent graduates of its local career training and education programs to fill a majority of these positions. The store also will create training opportunities allowing participants in Goodwill programs to gain real-world experience as they work to earn permanent positions.

Goodwill already has begun the search for a professional store manager and two experienced assistant managers. Individuals interested in applying for jobs at the Goodwill Canton retail store should click the "Jobs at Goodwill" link at http://www.goodwillldetroit.org.

Upon closing its last remaining Metro Detroit retail store around 2000, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit became one of the only Goodwill organizations worldwide to focus on non-retail opportunities to fund employment education and training programs for area individuals in need of jobs.

In addition to support from Art Van, generous support for the Canton store opening came from a number of other community partners:
• The Junior Group of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, a volunteer auxiliary group existing to support the organization, provided the seed money that enabled the project.
• Madison Heights, Mich.-based 11 Mile Truck Frame & Axle donated initial truck maintenance and painting services.
• Rogers, Minn.-based Archway Marketing Services donated warehouse space for the storage of donated goods prior to the store opening.
• Detroit-based International Trading Solutions donated additional logistical support.
• Thousands of pounds of clothing and textiles to be sold in the Canton store were donated through a partnership with area Bon-Ton Parisian and Elder-Beerman stores.

Until the Canton store opens, individuals wishing to donate new or gently used clothing or other items may drop them off at the organization's Detroit headquarters (3111 Grand River) or call (313) 964-3900 for more information.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

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• Detroit
• jobs
• Goodwill
• Industries
• Greater
• job
• creation
• employment
• training
• barriers
• retail
• store
• clothing
• Comcast
• Newsmakers
• recycling
• retraining
• Canton