Florida TaxWatch has released a report titled "More Than A Store: The Fiscal and Economic Impacts of Goodwill in Florida," highlighting the significant economic contributions made by Goodwill's operations across the state. The findings were presented at a press conference held at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee.
Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, emphasized the role of Goodwill in fostering economic and workforce development. "The Florida Goodwill Association provides several impactful initiatives that help stimulate economic and workforce development by providing employment opportunities for individuals who often have barriers to entering the workforce through traditional means," he stated. Calabro noted that these programs contribute an estimated $1.2 billion in economic output value for 2023.
Donn Githens, President and CEO of Goodwill Manasota and Chair of the Florida Goodwill Association, expressed satisfaction with the study conducted by Florida TaxWatch. He said, “The Florida Goodwill Association wanted to measure our economic impact and there is no better organization than Florida TaxWatch to provide the information needed."
Goodwill operates within nine territories in Florida: Big Bend, Central Florida, Gulf Coast, Gulfstream, Manasota, North Florida, South Florida, Southwest Florida, and Suncoast. Each territory offers services tailored to local community needs.
State Senator Tracie Davis highlighted specific programs such as Take Stock in Children which supports youth education through mentoring and scholarships. In North Florida alone, 450 students participated with a perfect high school graduation rate in 2023.
Goodwill's program offerings span seven categories including career services/readiness and veteran services. Ninety percent of earnings from these territories are reinvested into program activities.
Florida TaxWatch is an independent nonprofit organization focused on enhancing government productivity and accountability through research funded by donations.