By Julie Rettinger
Fredericksburg, VA – In research conducted by the Elliot D. Pollack organization, Rappahannock Goodwill Industries (RGI) was found to have had an $80.7 million impact on the communities served and the Commonwealth in 2016. RGI was responsible for $2.7 million in revenue to the state through taxes for 1,210 full time equivalent jobs. The study does not include real estate and personal property taxes paid by Rappahannock Goodwill.
The average earned by an individual placed by Goodwill was $13.94 per hour. There were placements in 36 different industries, led by retail, food and beverage, health care, construction, and transportation.
The economic impact from those jobs essentially creates $80,700,000 in economic output (analogous to GDP) because of Rappahannock Goodwill’s efforts in providing employment and training opportunities for individuals seeking work. In addition, sales and income taxes paid as a result of these jobs totaled $2,363,100 in fiscal impact to Virginia. This compares with $54,700,000 in economic output and $2,074,000 in taxes generated only two years ago in 2014.
“Economic impact is an impressive measure of the work Rappahannock Goodwill does by helping persons with barriers to employment find work,” says Donnie Tolson, President & CEO. “What isn’t reflected in economic data is the impact having a job brings to individuals and families. This impact we refer to as the Power of Work.”
About Rappahannock Goodwill Industries
Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, Inc. is a private not-for-profit organization that serves the City of Fredericksburg and a 12-county region. It provides work opportunities and job training to people with barriers to employment, particularly those with disabilities. Its operations include a commercial laundry, off-site custodial and administrative services, a packaging and assembly operation, Taskforce Staffing, College Hunks Hauling and Moving, ServiceMaster Clean, three Job Help Centers, twelve Goodwill stores, a Goodwill Outlet, and numerous Attended Donation Centers.
