Construction crews broke ground last week on a new, 14,000-square-foot building that will house a Goodwill second-hand store in Evergreen.
The store is scheduled to open in May, according to Tim Bleymaier, director of Goodwill operations for Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain.
Easter Seals-Goodwill is an independent, nonprofit organization responsible for the Goodwill stores in southern Idaho and Montana, Bleymaier said. It also run an autism service program in Kalispell, he said, which will benefit from the Goodwill revenue.
“We’ve been looking for opportunities to expand in Montana,” Bleymaier said. “Kalispell is one (area) we’ve wanted to be in for a while.”
Crews worked on laying the building’s foundation last week at its location in front of the Ashley Furniture building on Lasalle Road. Bleymaier said his organization decided to take an opportunity to build from the ground up because other existing buildings did not fit the Goodwill’s needs.
“We have fairly specific needs in regards to the layout of the building,” Bleymaier said. “The thrift business is unique in that you don’t know what you’re going to get in donations; it changes everyday.”
In addition to funding the existing autism program, Bleymaier said revenue from the Goodwill could help his organization expand its services in Kalispell.
Mark Waatti, of Landstar Development, said the building should be finished by the end of the year. It is also a bright spot in an otherwise tight construction market, he said.
“It’s a big part of the community to have construction going,” Waatti said.
John Casalegno, a general contractor at Hammerquist Casalegno, said the project is putting framers, dry-wallers, painters, roofers and heavy equipment operators back on the job.
“It does affect putting people back to work and we feel fortunate to have it,” Casalegno said.
Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain should be in the building by February or March, Bleymaier said.
For more information on the organization, visit http://esgw-nrm.easterseals.com.