Dirt moving for new Goodwill

SPOKANE – Dozens of area residents showed up to watch some dirt get moved on May 31 to celebrate the initial construction of the new 60,000 square foot facility that is planned for the West Plains.

The new building will be addressed at 9837 West Flight Drive in west Spokane near Airway Heights but will serve the entire West Plains region. According to Heather Alexander, Sr. Associate Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Goodwill has been looking for property in the area for quite a while, and this will help the company better serve the surrounding communities and reduce waste.

"Goodwill has been looking for property in Airway Heights for several years. This property was a great find for Goodwill. We are excited to be part of the West Plains area and the Airway Heights community," Alexander said. "This new Airway Heights facility will also help our efforts to eliminate waste in our communities. We are working toward a goal to become a Zero Waste agency."

"Over the last four years, Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest has kept more than 94 million pounds of materials out of local landfills through its resale, recycling, and salvage operations. That is enough material to fill 6,300 garbage trucks," she continued.

She also noted that Goodwill operates in 23 counties in eastern Washington and north Idaho, and explained how the retail stores are the principal source of Goodwill program funding.

"We are excited for the opportunity to bring more support to our Goodwill programs with the addition of this new facility," Alexander said. "Goodwill invests more than 85 cents of every dollar from the sale of goods donated into supporting its programs."

The goal is to have the facility operational by spring of 2023, and will add around 22 full time jobs with benefits.