Survey Says: Goodwill Manasota economic impact up $10 million

As part of the impact it had, the nonprofit hired 170 employees throughout the region last year.

By Business Observer Staff
| 11:43 a.m. April 15, 2022
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Courtesy. Pictured, from left, at Joshanna Franklin, Noah Galer and Lekesha Dunbar, all Goodwill Manasota team members, at the corporate campus in Bradenton.

Manatee-Sarasota

As its name intends, Goodwill Manasota indeed provided some goodwill to Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties over the past year in terms of its economic impact.

The Bradenton-based nonprofit’s impact of $91.04 million in 2021 was up $10 million over the previous year. The impact was based on gross receipts for goods and services that came from Goodwill Manasota’s activities like job placements and total wage and salary payments. The data, provided by Arizona-based Elliott D. Pollack & Co., also reflected construction and capital improvements that were made to new and existing facilities.

“We are pleased by our 2021 impact numbers but will always strive to do better to serve the community in this and future years,” Goodwill Manasota President Donn Githens says in a news release. “We look forward to continuing in our efforts to change lives through the power of work.”

The nonprofit provided 170 jobs in the region last year that was accompanied by 102,608 hours of training. In addition, through its American Veterans and Their Families program, Goodwill Manasota provided comprehensive case management, free career services and networking opportunities to 381 veterans.

“Goodwill Manasota,” Githens says, “is uniquely positioned to lead the way in ensuring that every individual – regardless of their unique challenges, backgrounds or life experiences – has access to the skills, resources and services they need to get on the road to financial stability and achieve their life goals.”