Rep. McBride, Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester Celebrate Opening of Goodwill Opportunity Hub in Wilmington

Wilmington, Del. - U.S. Representative Sarah McBride and U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) today joined Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County for the grand opening of Goodwill's new Opportunity Hub in Wilmington. The delegation secured $1.128 million in federal funding for this project, which will help residents develop job skills and find employment opportunities.

"Goodwill's new Opportunity Hub is a testament to what's possible when we invest directly in people," said Representative McBride. "This space will open doors for Delawareans building new skills, new careers, and a stronger future for their families. I'm grateful to Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester for their advocacy that made this funding possible."

"Everyone who works for Goodwill is dedicated to creating opportunity and hope for those in their communities," said Senator Coons. "Delawareans looking for help learning new skills for their job hunt and gaining new tools will find what they need through Goodwill Connect, and I'm so proud to provide federal funding to help those folks achieve brighter futures."

"The dignity of work is essential to what it means to be an American, and that's why Goodwill's new Opportunity Center will be so important for our community," said Senator Blunt Rochester. "As Delaware's former Secretary of Labor, CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, and co-founder of the bipartisan Future of Work Caucus in Congress, I am proud that we were able to secure this important funding, which will strengthen our workforce and take our economy to the next level."

"This launch is arriving at exactly the right moment," said Colleen Morrone, President & CEO of Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County. "People are trying to navigate a job market undergoing immense change, and they need tools that are fast, relevant, and easy to use, including personal assistance to guide individuals through the needs of a rapidly changing workforce. The Opportunity Hub is designed to meet that need from day one."

This funding allowed Goodwill to implement major upgrades to the former Job Resource Center, including: a new networking and collaboration space staffed by Goodwill Career Navigators, expanded space for virtual and in-person interviews, a digital display with up-to-date employment opportunities, increased broadband access, and floor-to-ceiling upgrades to materials, lighting, power, and devices. This is the first phase of a three-phase project, which will later see upgrades to Goodwill's Opportunity Hubs in Kent and Sussex Counties.

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