Construction has officially begun on a 50,000-square-foot Goodwill center in Foley, set to offer a range of services and support to residents across Baldwin County. The facility, located on East Azalea Avenue, will serve as a regional hub for job training, retail, and community programs, aiming to provide opportunities for individuals facing employment challenges, including veterans and people with disabilities. Local officials and Goodwill leadership gathered this week for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of the project, which is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025.

In a press release from the City of Foley further details were provided.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich, who took part in the groundbreaking event this week, said the facility will be an asset not only to Foley, but the entire region.

“This is going to be a fantastic facility. It's regional in nature, and will be the base for services that they provide across our area,” Hellmich said. “This is going to be very large, a 50,000-square-foot building. It will house a lot of their services. It will provide more space that they need for things like the new warehouse.”

Hellmich said Goodwill not only helps people in need, but provides jobs to people who sometimes have difficulty finding employment, such as veterans and individuals with disabilities.

“They will be providing services out of there,” Hellmich said. “They do a lot of things people don't realize. They do GED classes. They provide help for citizens. They provide services for citizens. They give jobs and if you don’t have any skills or experience, they hire and teach you.” 

Frank Harkins, president and chief executive officer of Goodwill Gulf Coast, said the center will help the organization expand its services.

“Having a facility of this size and scope in Foley will help us provide more of our programs and services to benefit individuals and families living in this part of Baldwin County,” Harkins said. “This will be the only facility in our 10-county service area that combines all four types of our stores and centers in one convenient location.”

Construction is expected to take about one year. The center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025. 

For the project, Goodwill Gulf Coast is working with partners Randall Paulson Architects, development partner Piedmont Companies and construction company Rogers and Willard.

Goodwill Gulf Coast operates 10 retail stores, two outlet stores, 10 stand-alone donation centers, and five opportunity centers throughout its 10-county service area in southwest Alabama and northwest Florida. Eighty-nine cents of every dollar Goodwill Gulf Coast spends provides support for the programs and services offered in the community, including job training and placement services, as well as support programs for children, youth and parents. 

In the 2023 fiscal year, Goodwill Gulf Coast provided over 20,000 services to 13,219 individuals, encompassing people of all ages and abilities.