Growing & Scaling Regional Services

Goodwill’s Workforce Services programs help close the gap for our participants in obtaining the life they want to achieve. However, the majority of our services are offered in Mecklenburg County, only 1 of 18 counties in our region. One of our biggest problems is people living outside of Mecklenburg County do not have access to the same set of services as Charlotte Metro and Mecklenburg County residents. This discrepancy is intensified by the lack of transportation resources throughout our more rural communities. Research has shown that 44% of people living outside of Charlotte, NC list transportation as one of largest barriers in accessing workforce services (Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, 2023).

In our target surrounding counties, over 25% of residents are in the middle or late stages of their careers. Gaston County, located next to Mecklenburg County, has one of the highest populations below 200% of the federal poverty level (US Census Bureau, 2022). Inquiries state career navigation as the highest need for people outside of Mecklenburg County to grow their careers (Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, 2023). To meet these needs, Goodwill would like to seek solutions to these barriers, helping people see possibilities, seize opportunities, and prosper. 

Goodwill’s primary services offer a package that includes job training, career coaching, employer connections, and stability services to close the gap for our participants in obtaining the life they want to achieve. By collaborating with educators that provide relevant training in IT, construction and trades, and banking, our participants gain skills in the top industries in our region. Our programs are offered to those 18 years and older and at no cost to the participant.

Our job training programs are offered in-person in Charlotte, NC and virtually, depending on the type of instruction needed. Career Navigation services, which are included when participants join a job training class, are offered in person, virtually, or by phone depending on the participant’s needs. Coaches work with the participant and Goodwill’s employer engagement team to help throughout the job seeking process and then through the participant gaining employment. Once a participant gains employment, career navigators then follow a set schedule of retention touchpoints. Participants can continue to utilize career navigation services as needed after the final touchpoint. This can include seeking more job training, other employment opportunities, or stability services.

Goodwill programs support adults aged 18 and older. All services are offered at no cost to the participant, providing equitable access to opportunity and opening our doors to those of any income level. In 2023, 94% of participants that reported their income level prior to receiving services had a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The average age of participants what 40 years old, with 34% of participants in the middle to late career stages.

Although the greater Charlotte area has achieved high rates of job growth over the past 30 years, low-income families have been unlikely to benefit from local economic prosperity (Charlotte Opportunity Initiative, 2020). In the Southern Piedmont region, 28% of middle and low-income families lacked secure employment between 2016-2020. The percentage jumped to 40% for Black and 31% for Latinx families (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2022).

Our programs are designed to support the underemployed and unemployed, ensuring equitable access to career advancement for those of any age or background. Through our career navigation and wraparound services, we are helping close the gap for our participants in obtaining the life they want to achieve.

Goodwill is committed to providing compassionate and effective services. Our programs and services are guided by our communities’ input through surveys, roundtable events, and retrospective discussions. By creating more holistic opportunities to collect feedback, Goodwill is able gain a stronger understanding of the interests and needs of the public. Our team reflects the diversity of our community and brings a deep understanding of the local needs and opportunities. By reflecting the melting pot of the region, our team fosters trust and builds stronger relationships with our participants. This allows us to provide more effective and culturally sensitive support.

Partnerships with employers are also key to our participants’ success, as they ensure our programs are training people for in-demand jobs throughout the region. The Employer Engagement team identifies its employer partners through labor market research, referrals, and target outreach to find employers with industry-leading missions, hiring practices, and wages. These partners are actively involved throughout the program, including class design, being guest speakers, and other engagement opportunities to increase connection and experiences for participants.

All participants are invited to provide feedback on the job training and services received through their career navigator, also known as a coach. Career navigators provide support throughout Goodwill training classes and completion of training. Coaches work with the participant and Goodwill’s employer engagement team to help throughout the job seeking process and then through the participant gaining employment. Once a participant gains employment, career navigators then follow a set schedule of touchpoints. Throughout these touchpoints, coaches collect feedback on the participant’s experience and any suggestions they may have for improvement of services to better meet job market and community needs. 

Goodwill’s Workforce Services program offers a package that includes job training, career coaching, employer connections, and stability services to close the gap for our participants in obtaining the life they want to achieve. By collaborating with educators that provide relevant training in IT, construction and trades, and banking, our participants gain skills in the top industries in our region. The program is an established service provider in Mecklenburg County with a well-structured delivery design and over 50 years of success.

Goodwill’s programs have grown to support over 10,000 total served participants a year, including 1,200 training program participants. In 2023, the average starting wage of participants in intensive job training programs was $23.28, with 88% retaining employment for at least 6 months. However, growth of our services outside of Mecklenburg County have been stagnant.

Goodwill has targeted 5 counties experiencing population increases, demographic changes, and growth in key industries with above-average pay (Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, 2023). They include Gaston, Cabbarus, and Union in North Carolina and York and Lancaster in South Carolina. Goodwill is ready to begin growing the Workforce Services program to meet the developing needs of those in the middle and late stages of their careers. 

We are currently going through a website relaunch. The following link will be live beginning Friday, January 17.

https://goodwillsp.org/job-car...

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is the only workforce services nonprofit organization that provides a full wrap-around model at no cost to the participant in the greater Charlotte Metro region. Along with providing equitable access to job training and services, Goodwill is also innovative in supporting the whole person through career navigation, employer engagement, and wraparound services. This full network of services and training opportunities create economic justice for all people seeking to achieve a more sustainable life, especially those who are overlooked like adults in the middle and late stages of their careers. Goodwill helps bridge the skills gap and creates pathways to high-potential vocations.

Goodwill believes everyone deserves equitable access to opportunity and our approach is grounded in building pathways that help individuals overcome obstacles. We offer an immersive approach that includes work-based learning, mentoring, talent showcases, mock interviews, and curriculum informed by real-time industry insight. Our thread is partnerships – with industry to inform our offerings, with people to identify their goals and needs, and with the community to fund this mission. This comprehensive approach creates access to higher-paying, higher-promise careers that lead to generational wealth and sustained outcomes to help people thrive.

Along with being a pioneering leader in the region, Goodwill partners with other organizations and community leaders to accelerate broader positive impacts in the workforce services area. These partnerships and resource pooling are helping to change the workforce landscape, creating career opportunities is available for all. 

Goodwill’s 2024-2029 strategic plan includes the following impact goals:

• Prepare People for the Future of Work
• Expanding Regional Services
• Strengthening Connections to Employment in Mecklenburg County
• Providing Good Jobs

Goodwill uses the following metrics to measure our progress towards these goals:

• Job placement
• Average starting wage
• Employment retention
• Number of people connected to a job

Chief Program Officer

Director, Workforce Partnerships & Regional Career Services

Regional Manager

6 Regional Career Navigators

Family Stability Navigator

Total: 10 full-time staff

The Regional Career Services team also works with our job training department and in-house staffing agency to help ensure program success.

Goodwill has been actively working to expand our Workforce Services program outside of Mecklenburg County since 2016 with the relocating the Gaston County employment center. Goodwill recently moved our Gastonia Career & Employment Center in 2024 to be better centrally located within the City of Gastonia. Over the last 9 years, Goodwill has been able to provide limited computer access, resume review, and job search support. While these programs have had a positive impact, Goodwill is not able to reach the growing population of those throughout our 5 targeted counties with industry-led job training and aligned career navigation. 

Our Goodwill welcomes and celebrates the mosaic of our society and is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone belongs. We lift as we climb, promote dignity and respect, and we value all perspectives by encouraging engagement in courageous conversations to strengthen relationships through the lens of allyship for all.

Goodwill tracks our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) initiative goals through key performance indicators. We have also partnered with an external dedicated vendor for intentional under resourced sourcing. Goodwill’s goals include offering 3 (DEI&B) staff team engagement activities a year, an annual DEI&B survey, and 40% goal of equity in promotions. The Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont executive leadership team includes an even distribution of 33% Black, 33% Latin/Hispanic, and 33% White demographic team. It is also evenly split with half female and half male gender identity.

Goodwill offers a full network of services and training opportunities to create economic justice for all people seeking to achieve a more sustainable life, especially those who are overlooked. All programs and services are offered at no cost to the participant, helping bridge skill gaps and create pathways to high-potential careers.

The Workforce Services program offers education, career navigation, and employer connections to close the gap for our participants in obtaining the life they want to achieve. By collaborating with educators that provide relevant training in IT, construction and trades, and banking, our participants gain skills in the top industries in our region. We form trusted consultative relationships with employers, and they provide input regarding what skills they need in their areas of expertise, and they engage with our participants, hiring them for meaningful careers.

These training programs and services provide participants with marketable skill sets and credentials, with the goal of reaching employment upon completion. Participants experience skills and wage progression and increase their financial well-being as a result their earnings and financial education. While success does not look the same for all participants, the overarching goal of helping people pursue the life they want to achieve is the same. 

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont has developed funding strategies on a local, regional, and national level through a variety of sources including government and private grants, individual donations, and corporate support. We have dedicated a portion of our earned store revenue to the Workforce Services progam and are continuously developing partnerships within the community that can lead to funding as well.

Past supporters include: 

City of Charlotte

Bank of America Charitable Foundation

Lowe's Foundation

Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Legacy Foundation

Alemarle Foundation

Ally Foundation

Weisiger Group

Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

Rosendin Foundation

Blumenthal Foundation

PNC Foundation

Cannon Foundation

Accenture

Goodwill is seeking support from the Truist Foundation and MIT Solve to gain a better understanding of what resources and support would be most appropriate to meet those in the middle and late stages of their careers located in our 5 target counties in helping them create the life they want to achieve. By creating a strategic partnership, Goodwill hopes to find innovative solutions for those with the desire to prosper in their communities connect to opportunity.

Goodwill hopes to fulfill our organizational strategic impact goal of expanding regional services through the Truist Inspire Awards. By connecting with the foundation’s network of resource partners, gaining support to develop plans for scaling, and meeting with a network of peers dedicated to reskilling and upskilling, Goodwill hopes to design a successful and sustainable program model for our regional workforce services.