YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Founded more than 130 years ago, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries has been a cornerstone of community support, offering vital services to the Mahoning and Shenango valleys.
With 300 employees, the agency’s mission is to empower individuals and families by removing barriers to employment and fostering financial independence, says Joe Catullo, marketing and relationship coordinator.
In 2024, Goodwill formed a partnership with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber to complete a community needs assessment. That assessment identified employment barriers.
This year, Goodwill will launch a comprehensive strategic plan, mapping its growth path for the next few years.
“Our goal is to begin reducing the 6% gap in the Valley’s workforce participation rate in comparison with state and national averages,” Catullo says.
The Trumbull-Mahoning RISE Community Collaborative, now under the Goodwill umbrella, will continue to provide community resource linkage and professional development and raise awareness about barriers that impact disinvested populations.
Another initiative will provide transportation for Goodwill employees from the Rescue Mission to work.
Catullo says Goodwill exceeded $1 million in sales across five stores, bolstering funding for mission programs; secured about $280,000 in grants and donations; and hosted its first fundraising breakfast. The agency also supported efforts to help residents displaced by the Realty Tower explosion.
The organization expanded services into western Pennsylvania through the First Step Act, supporting citizens returning from incarceration. And the agency expanded preschool vision screenings by 15%.