Alaska will soon have its first Goodwill retail store.
Goodwill Industries of Alaska announced Friday it will have a grand opening for its new store in Midtown Anchorage at 8 a.m. Thursday.
Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Goodwill Industries International President and CEO Jim Gibbons and others will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony before doors open.
Goodwill Job Connections has been in Anchorage for two years, providing people with one-on-one job-search assistance. But this store will mean Maryland-based Goodwill Industries International Inc. will have a retail presence in all 50 states.
Goodwill Industries is a nonprofit that accepts donations of household goods, furniture, clothes and other items at its thrift stores. It uses the money from those retail sales to fund employment training, job placement and other services.
The new store, located at 3838 Old Seward Highway, will also serve as a job training facility and bring 32 full-time jobs to Anchorage.
The store is already stocked with shoes, clothes, books, household items and more. People can make donations there or at Donation Xpress, at 11109 Old Seward Hwy.