Home Community Goodwill to make former Kohl’s store their new home

Goodwill to make former Kohl’s store their new home

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Goodwill to make former Kohl’s store their new home
Ann is a Madison College student who receives tutoring and other support through the Goodwill PASS program. Photo provided by Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin

By Lauri Lee
Northside Economic Development Coalition

In the fall of 2017, the dark space at 2901 N. Sherman Ave. in the Northside TownCenter will have a new tenant when Goodwill makes 45 percent of the building their new home. They have a signed lease for 22,000 square feet of space in the building and plan to spend $1 million to renovate the interior of the store and upgrade the facade. A 30-person conference room for community use will also be included at the site.

It’s been a long wait — since 2003 — for the Northside to see a tenant actively use the former Kohl’s grocery store space for a business. The 48,000 square foot space has sat empty for all these years, a result of Copp’s signing a long-term lease for the space and then closing the store to eliminate competition for their Shopko Drive location.

Each new Goodwill store presents employment opportunities for the community. “We will be hiring 25–30 people to do receiving, sorting, pricing, stocking the floor and working at the cash register,” said Janet DesChenes, Director Marketing and Development for Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin, Inc. “The employment opportunities will range from part-time to professional management positions.”

“The reason we have retail stores,” said DesChenes, “is they serve as the economic engine for the community services we provide.” The resale of donated goods through the stores accounts for 85 percent of the organization’s revenue. This allows them to operate their mission program of supported employment serving adults with disabilities. When someone donates to their local store, most times, their donation gets resold in that location or within the South Central 14-county region. Each region is a 501 (c) (3).

Sam is a Goodwill supported employment participant, pictured here at work with his job coach. Photo by Goodwill of SC WI

Goodwill strengthens the community by providing supportive housing, employment services, and other assistance to local residents with disabilities or other challenges. “A rising tide lifts all boats. Everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and you can’t leave some people out of the equation,” said DesChenes. “Our mission is to help people in the community achieve their highest level of independence through the power of work. We believe everyone can work and this is through a hand up, not a hand out.”

Job training provided by Goodwill teaches adults with disabilities how to hold a job and be successful in those jobs. When individuals work at a local business, the employer, not Goodwill, independently employs them. Goodwill assigns a job coach to the employee and their role varies depending on the employee’s skill level and capabilities. If the worker is high functioning, the coach might just need to check in with them. If needed, the coach could be with them the entire time they are working.

Goodwill currently owns a group home and an apartment building on the Northside. The group homes are a supportive environment where individuals gain self-management skills to live and work independently. They are trained by staff to grocery shop, cook, travel to doctor appointments, and manage medications and money. Individuals can be in program for two years, with the goal to be independent at the end of this time or move to the apartments, which is a more independent setting. Tenants pay one-third of their income as rent to live in quality apartments.

“The Northside is so dedicated to community service,” said DesChenes. “We’re excited about adding a new location in this neighborhood.” Goodwill focuses on what is most needed by the community. “Tens of thousands of dollars is annually given by Goodwill to partner organizations through county human services offices to help people get back on their feet,” said DesChenes.