Goodwill to Purchase Lee’s Hill Building in Spotsylvania
(Fredericksburg, VA) – Rappahannock Goodwill Industries’ (RGI) Board of Directors has approved the purchase of an 80,000 square foot building at Lee’s Hill in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. The two story building was previously the showroom and offices for Gallahan’s Furniture. RGI will move their offices on Caroline and Princess Anne streets to the new facility. It will also house a new Goodwill Store, the Goodwill Outlet, transportation hub, and feature space to be used by other non-profit organizations or groups that compliment the mission of Goodwill.
Woody Van Valkenburgh, President and CEO, said the eventual relocation to the new building is just the beginning of an expanded mission for Goodwill. “Moving many of our offices to one location will have a dramatic improvement on our operation. Even more exciting is the potential we will have to provide office space at a deeply discounted rate to other not-for-profits, as well as public or private organizations which have similar visions and missions as Goodwill.”
Van Valkenburgh said the project will take several years to complete. The first phase will involve overall site work and the opening of a new store and relocation of the Goodwill Outlet. A transportation hub that is currently located in the Battlefield Industrial Park will also relocate to the building in order to improve logistics. The corporate offices and mission services will move to Lee’s Hill in the second phase sometime in 2013. At that time the collaborative space will also be available for strategic partners.
“Our vision is to make the Lee’s Hill location a central hub in providing services to assist those with disabilities or other barriers to employment”, stated Van Valkenburgh. As an example, Van Valkenburgh said RGI will be able to provide office space to organizations that serve those with severe disabilities or that help wounded veterans as they return to the workforce. “Goodwill’s mission is to help those with disabilities or other barriers to employment find a job. This new facility provides us with expanded opportunities to fulfill our mission as well as collaborate with others that provide other needed services”, said Van Valkenburgh.
The former Gallahan’s building has been vacant for 3 years following the bankruptcy of the long-time furniture store. Van Valkenburgh feels even the purchase of the building fits well with the work of Goodwill. “We are taking a building that wasn’t being used and we are giving it a new life. That is exactly what we do with clothing and other household items people donate to our stores. It is also reflects the transformation of the people who seek the help of Goodwill. Many are without jobs because of a disability or, sometimes, not knowing how to find a good paying job. We are able to transform them into great workers for area employers. We will be transforming the building at Lee’s Hill into a vibrant addition to our community”.
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Rappahannock Goodwill Industries is a private not-for-profit organization that serves the City of Fredericksburg and a 12-county region. It provides work opportunities and job training to people with barriers to employment, particularly those with disabilities. Its operations include a commercial laundry, off-site custodial and administrative services, an outsourcing and contract facility, three Job Help Centers, eight Goodwill stores, a Goodwill Outlet, and numerous Attended Donation Centers.
Contact: Woody Van Valkenburgh, President/CEO, Rappahannock Goodwill Industries. 540.371-3070. Woody.VanValkenburgh@FredGoodwill.org