A new Goodwill retail center in Northwest Arkansas is not only providing 20 new jobs for the area, but its Career Services Center is giving people the training they need to find employment.
Shoes, clothes and other items fill the new Goodwill store located at the corner of College Avenue and Appleby Road in Fayetteville.
"The more that we have that we can sell, the more that we can take for donations that we can put on our floor, means more revenue for Goodwill and it turn means more revenue to our mission and that is helping our community," said store manager Cathy Magner.
In less than three years Goodwill added more than 120 jobs in Northwest Arkansas and more than 350 statewide.
Kendra Watson is among those hired in 2010. Watson couldn't find a job so she turned to Goodwill's Career Service Center for some help.
"I started with the TEO program, it's a transitional program, they help people when it's hard to find employment and I started through that program,” Watson said. “It's a 16 week program and also I got hired on after that through Goodwill."
After just two years with goodwill, Watson became the lead production manager. Goodwill helped her make some changes in her life necessary to be successful, she said.
"It helped me improve my life a lot and fortunately for my daughter and my grandkids,” Watson said. “I am really happy that I can support them and work for this company."
The new 14,600 square foot retail center, located in the former Aldi`s grocery store building next to the Fiesta Square Shopping Center, is the sixth Goodwill location in the area and will be the 19th in the state.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new store will be held at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 13. Grand opening promotions include registration for giveaways of $50 and $100 Goodwill shopping sprees and a brand new 42” HD TV.
The store will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Goodwill also has locations in Springdale, Bentonville, Bella Vista, and Fort Smith.
For more information: www.goodwillar.org.