Goodwill Industries of Kansas has opened its first Opportunity Center in Kansas.   A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday to open the center at 2700 North Woodland in northwest Wichita.  It will provide a number of workforce development services.

Goodwill Opportunity Center – Empower is an accessbile, community-based location where Goodwill and its partners will offer free, targeted services to support individuals in their pursuit of education and employment. The center will provide core services such as resume assistance, job search help, job application support, and interview preparation.

In addition, the center will be home to NexStep Alliance classrooms that will offer GED preparation classes, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, and other resources tailored to meet the unique needs of the community.

The community resource center is the result of a strategic partnership between Goodwill Industries of Kansas, Empower, WSU Tech and the City of Wichita.   Goodwill president and CEO Laura Ritterbush said in a press release that the center will make it possible for people to access the resources they need to build better futures for themselves and their families.  She said, “The Opportunity Center is a place where individuals can take meaningful steps toward economic independence.”