Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA will open a new retail training store and a Goodwill outlet on Friday, Sept. 18 at 3362 Wrightsboro Road. The stores will open at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. Hours of operation for donations and shopping will be Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Retail training stores are the primary source of funding for Goodwill’s nonprofit mission to build lives, families and communities one career at a time. Eighty-six cents of every dollar earned funds training, education, career counseling and employment assistance for those facing barriers to employment.

The new two-store venue will pair upscale thrift store shopping with a “buy by the pound” outlet. The local 501(c)3 charity rotates merchandise out of its regular retail stores after three weeks. Items not sold in that timeframe will be transferred to the outlet where they will be placed in large bins or on tables for customers to self-sort and purchase by the pound at a substantial savings over Goodwill’s already low prices.

“Goodwill has always been a leader in the reuse, repurpose, recycle movement. These two stores will help us be even better stewards of items donated by our generous material donors,” said James Stiff, President and CEO of Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA. “The retail training store will bring a new upscale experience to the area’s shoppers. The new outlet store will be a treasure trove for bargain hunters and another avenue of support for our mission to build career pathways out of poverty for the citizens in the Augusta area whom we serve.”

Through its Job Connection career centers, the local nonprofit provides employment readiness training, computer access, educational assistance, skills workshops and other services. Last ,year the organization served 17,566 clients, placing 6,732 people in jobs with an estimated total economic impact of more than $210 million in the communities it serves.

Later in the fall, Goodwill will offer industry certification programs at this location that will be partially underwritten by retail sales. More details regarding these certification programs will be forthcoming. 

For more information on store locations and hours, visit www.GoodwillWorks.org.