Seeking floor and production associates, applications will be taken at the Georgia Department of Labor Cartersville Career Center at 19 Felton Place in person on June 14 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
"The new store presented an opportunity for us to provide jobs during a time when many businesses are cutting their workforces," said Elaine Armstrong, Goodwill's director of public relations, referring to the local unemployment situation, which sits above the state and national averages.
The Cartersville store, located at 929 Joe Frank Harris Parkway -- directly across from Cartersville Medical Center, will offer about 12,500 square feet of shopping space featuring clothes, shoes, accessories, furniture, books, toys and other gently used items. For convenience of shopping and donation, the store will be open seven days a week.
The Goodwill mission began more than a century ago in Boston, Mass., and has since turned into an international organization. Goodwill of North Georgia has evolved and expanded from an organization that began serving Atlanta 85 years ago. The nonprofit now operates stores, donation centers and career centers that offer job training and employment services.
Armstrong explained that through centers like the Cartersville location, Goodwill's mission of "putting people to work" is partially funded with the donation and purchase of goods.
"Whether it is at our Cartersville store or at any of our stores, we want the donors and the shoppers to know that what they do to support us actually helps support their neighbors because through our mission services -- our job training and placement programs -- we are helping to put people to work. So that is what we exist for and we are just glad that we are able to have the people who shop and donate to us help support that. It is because of them that we are able to put over 4,000 people to work every year," she said.
Goodwill of North Georgia covers 45 counties and recent expansions are reaching more of the coverage territory. The Cartersville store will be among the furthest north and east in the state serving more than just local residents.
Armstrong added that guests to Cartersville's store opening July 15 may be surprised by what she calls "not your grandmother's Goodwill" referring to advances in quality and selection.
Hours of operation will be Mondays through Saturdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A variety of donations will be accepted with the exclusion of mattresses and large appliances. Through a partnership with Dell, Goodwill also will except computer equipment of any brand in any condition for recycling purposes.
For more information, visit www.goodwillng.org.