ATLANTA – Goodwill of North Georgia will open the doors to its Old National Career Center on Monday, January 27, at 9 a.m. Located at 6175 Old National Highway in Atlanta, the career center will serve as a crucial resource for members of the local Atlanta community to find jobs. With 12 career centers situated throughout North Georgia, this thirteenth addition is the first to serve individuals in South Fulton specifically. 

The Old National Career center will help people who face various obstacles to employment, including lack of work history, physical, mental and emotional disabilities, underemployment, and limited education. Goodwill also assists individuals with language barriers, criminal backgrounds, dependency on public assistance, and those facing various other challenges that may stand in the way to employment. In addition, the career center offers free services to any job seeker looking to make a career change or connect to high demand jobs in the area.

“The grand opening of our Old National Career Center only furthers our mission to put people to work,” said Keith T. Parker, President and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia. “Having a career center in the heart of Fulton County is critical and long overdue. We look forward to supporting members of the community to connect them with a job, a better job, and finally, a career. This grand opening is the first step in the right direction to increase income mobility for countless neighbors.” 

In efforts to help improve the economic mobility of South Fulton residents, Goodwill of North Georgia will partner with the Aerotropolis Workforce Collective. This partnership will also allow Goodwill of North Georgia to meet the needs of its growing business and industries in South Fulton, and the area surrounding Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport.

Last year in Fulton County, Goodwill of North Georgia served 5,850 job seekers and placed 2,477 people with jobs. The nonprofit currently has over 1,000 employer partners in Fulton. 

Mayor William “Bill” Edwards expounds on the significance of the partnership between Goodwill and South Fulton.

“Goodwill is a shining example of what it means to, not only do business in a community but, become a vital part of the fabric of that community. We are excited to have this wonderful partnership that, so immensely, benefits the entire community,” said Mayor Edwards.

Goodwill executes its mission to put people to work through its 13 career centers located throughout North Georgia. All career centers are open to the public and equipped with the people and resources to help job seekers and micro business owners. Each center provides access to the Internet, telephones, and various other resources needed for job searching. 

Y. Dyan Matthews, South Fulton Chamber President & CEO, explains how the Old National Career Center will impact residents of South Fulton.

“Having a Goodwill Career Center locate on Old National Highway in the City of South Fulton is a major asset to our community. Residents will now have easy access to job training and placement right here in their neighborhood. We look forward to supporting Goodwill as they help our citizens reach their goal of obtaining meaningful training and employment,” said Matthews.

The nonprofit’s career centers are also where job seekers can learn about the organization’s numerous job training programs, including Youth Employment Services and the Technology Career Program. Participants in the various job and career training programs will receive assistance with job placement and retention.

Goodwill’s partnership with The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) serves as a crucial component of the Old National Career Center and further strengthens the job training programs the organization offers. LISC partnered with Goodwill of North Georgia to launch a Financial Opportunity Center to help job seekers with finding employment and improving their financial health.

“LISC makes investments to support healthy, sustainable communities made up of people who have living wage jobs who feel confident about their economic futures. That is why LISC is so proud to partner with Goodwill of North Georgia to celebrate the opening of the Old National Career Center,” said Dale Royal, LISC Atlanta Executive Director. “With support from MetLife, LISC is helping Goodwill launch a new Financial Opportunity Center at the Old National Career Center. The Financial Opportunity Center is a proven program to help clients advance along the path of employment, build smart money habits and improve their financial bottom line. Goodwill of North Georgia is joining the network of over 100 Financial Opportunity Centers funded by LISC across the country.”       

About Goodwill of North Georgia

The mission of Goodwill of North Georgia is to put people to work. The nonprofit has provided services in the region for more than 90 years. In fiscal year 2019, Goodwill of North Georgia provided job training and employment services to 51,915 people and helped 25,688 people find jobs or start new businesses. The organization currently operates 65 stores and 54 attended donation centers. Revenues generated from Goodwill’s retail program help fund job training and placement programs. For more information about Goodwill of North Georgia, visit GoodwillNG.org.