Goodwill expanding footprint as it breaks ground in Elkhorn
Goodwill Industries, Inc. is breaking ground at its newest location in Elkhorn, Neb. The organization will begin construction in September at their recently acquired property at 18905 Evans Street, with an anticipated opening in the fall of 2024.
Employees, board members, building partners, and community partners will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. to commemorate the building of Goodwill’s newest retail store and donation center.
“We have wanted to build in this area for the past ten years as it’s an area that we do not presently serve,” said Tobi Mathouser, president and chief executive officer at Goodwill.
LEO A DALY and C2 Building Company have been named Goodwill’s business partners to design and build the new 15,000 gross square-foot facility with features including a retail sales floor, drive-thru donation center, online pick-up, a training room, and will employ up to 35 people.
The Elkhorn location will be Goodwill’s first ground-up, free-standing build in the Omaha metro in a decade. Erin Froschheiser, associate and project manager at LEO A DALY, says the team is proud to be part of Goodwill’s newest venture.
“We share a commitment toward sustainability, and this common vision will be translated into new design elements that benefit both community members and employees,” said Froschheiser. Clerestory windows will allow natural daylight to flood the interior spaces, boosting employee comfort and reducing reliance on artificial lighting. Additionally, sensors and automated fixtures will help to reduce energy consumption and conserve water resources within the facility.
The addition of a new retail store and donation center aims to help Goodwill generate the funds necessary to support the expansion of mission services.
Goodwill is a nonprofit organization, and for 90 years, Goodwill Omaha has offered programs to help those with disabilities and other barriers find employment. In 2023, two additional training centers were opened to increase accessibility to programs across the metro area, offering apprenticeships, job placement services, referral resources, upskilling classes, and training for anyone in the community.
The new retail store and donation center will be Goodwill’s sixteenth retail store. Goodwill also has three specialty shops – GoodBytes – selling computers, gaming systems and electronics; a Retail Outlet Center where Goodwill sells last chance items and recycles nearly $7 million pounds of clothing, textiles, purses, belts, metal, computers, electronics, and shoes annually – keeping items out of landfills; and an eCommerce operation at ShopGoodwill.com, Amazon, and ebay.com. Three Donation Centers are strategically placed in locations without a retail presence, making public donations convenient.
“We are grateful for all the community support, making our growth possible, and for helping hundreds of individuals in our community annually receive mission services,” said Janelle Peterson, senior vice president of retail advancement for Goodwill. “This is why we do what we do, to help those needing services, and without our loyal shoppers and generous donations, this would not be possible.”
###
About Goodwill Industries, Inc.
Goodwill Omaha (GoodwillOmaha.org) accepts donated goods to sell in its 15 retail locations, which in turn funds mission programs such as job training and placement services to the community. Goodwill changes lives & strengthens communities through education, training, and work.
Providing job training and placement services to people with disabilities and other barriers or disadvantages, our programs include AbilityOne, Apprenticeships, Employability Classes, Employment Solutions, Senior Planet, Work Experience, and YouthBuild.
Goodwill is a private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency governed by a local board of trustees. We are a member agency of Goodwill Industries International of Rockville, Maryland, and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
For more information about Goodwill’s programs and our 18 convenient locations in Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, Fremont, Blair, Gretna and Council Bluffs, please visit GoodwillOmaha.org.
About LEO A DALY
Established in 1915, LEO A DALY is an international architecture, engineering, planning and interior design firm. The firm’s diverse portfolio includes projects in more than 91 countries, all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. The privately held practice has more than 400 design and engineering professionals in 9 studios worldwide. For more information, visit www.leoadaly.com.
About C2 Building Company
Founded in 2017, C2 Building Company is a leading construction firm dedicated to delivering the highest quality construction services. Focused on building lasting relationships with our clients, constantly innovating, and aiming to exceed expectations on every project. C2 Building Company takes pride in every project, and strives to exceed our clients’ expectations at every step of the process.