Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania has called 2600 E. Carson Street on the South Side home for more than 40 years but that will change in November. The charity has purchased a pair of warehouses in Lawrenceville and is currently in the process of renovating one of them to service as new office, classroom, and production space. More than 90% of the building will be used for client services. Michael J. Smith, President/CEO of Goodwill SWPA, says there are more then 200 Goodwill employees who will call the building home. About 200 clients are expected to visit the facility on weekdays to attend classes and participate in various training and employment programs. Smith says he thinks those individuals will be able to get to the new building as easily as they did the Carson Street location. A bus line runs about a block from the building. 
About 45% of the money raised during the capital campaign will be used to renovate the new building. Along with paying for the renovation, the capital campaign will raise funds to improve technology in the system, improve training and upgrade the Goodwill stores throughout the region. Nearly half of the campaign goal is to be meet with the sale of the old building. In addition, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has pledged a grant of $1.5 million, which includes $500,000 to match gifts from corporations.
Smith says as leases with tenants in the second building on the nine-acre property on 51st Street run out Goodwill will not renew them. He says they will place a new Goodwill store in that building next year and will look to attract nonprofit organizations with missions aligned with Goodwill’s mission to fill the rest of the building.
No comments:
Post a Comment