New Headquarters in Future for Rapidly Growing Goodwill

Nov. 11, 2012 - PRLog -- Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. has signed closing papers to purchase a 126,000 square foot facility in Fort Myers, Fla..  The building, located at 5100 Tice Street, is four times larger than the agency’s existing headquarters in North Fort Myers.

“Our agency has experienced exponential growth over the last five years,” explains Tom Feurig, President/CEO of Goodwill. “North Fort Myers has been our home since 1966, and we plan to maintain a presence in North Fort Myers.  We’ve made the most of the 30,000 square feet we have here, and we’ve just run out of opportunities to expand in our existing space.”

Since 2007, Goodwill (http://www.goodwillswfl.org) has experienced a 300% increase in the number of clients it serves through its mission services.  That year, the agency assisted 7,200 Southwest Floridians with disabilities and other disadvantages. By the close of 2012, Goodwill estimates that 29,000 clients will have come to the agency seeking opportunities to become more independent.

That increase in mission services has also sparked growth within the organization itself.  Over the last five years, Goodwill’s Southwest Florida workforce has increased in size from 425 to 650 employees. A number of Goodwill employees have been asked to work from home or temporary locations to accommodate the organization’s rapid growth.

The current agency headquarters is home to Goodwill’s administrative staff, operations plant, e-commerce department, Secure Shred facilities, and a Job-Link center.  However, the new Fort Myers facility will be more than just an administrative and resource center.  The larger location will provide the agency with the opportunity to expand its services even further, with room to accommodate the Goodwill L.I.F.E. Academy charter school, a clearance/outlet store, and a training center to provide opportunities for people with disabilities.

“It’s exciting to know we’re going to be expanding our services in East Fort Myers,” adds Feurig.  “We hope to contribute to the growth and revitalization of the greater Tice area.”

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. provides programs and services to help people with disabilities and other disadvantages overcome their barriers to employment and independence.  

For more information about Goodwill and its services, please visit the agency’s website at http://www.goodwillswfl.org.