Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana purchased the building that used to be a Lowe’s in New Orleans East. The space will be a multi-use Goodwill called Goodwill East. The multi-use Goodwill will house a retail store, an outlet store and a workforce development center. The workforce development center will be a place where New Orleans residents can go and get workforce development services.
The complex is slated to open its doors by the end of summer in 2024. The retail store will sell gently used donated items and low prices. The outlet store will sell items that did not sell in the retail store at lower prices, and if they still do not sell in the outlet store they will be recycled at the on-site warehouse.
“When someone donates something to us, we first try and sell it in our store, and then second, we try and recycle it. So the outlet and the recycling center will help keep things out of the landfill,” says Jodee Daroca, the CEO of Goodwill’s southeastern Louisiana operation.
As for the workforce development center, it will include a computer lab and conference rooms. The workforce services and the computer lab and conference rooms are all available for the public. There will also be training programs on how to interview for a job and how to succeed in the workplace.
The new development will also create seventy-five jobs for New Orleans. Thanks to a $10 million grant given to Goodwill by billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s foundation this was made possible.
