Construction Begins on Huntley Goodwill Store

In light of the traffic-slowing road work on Route 47, it’s only fitting that Huntley residents receive some good will – and construction has begun on Goodwill Northern Illinois’ new Huntley store.

Located about two blocks east of Route 47 and Kreutzer Road in the Kreutzer Industrial Park, the 16,000-square-foot store is expected to generate more than $90,000 in sales tax revenue and $450,000 in payroll taxes annually based on Goodwill’s projection of $1.25 million in yearly store revenue.

Additionally, the store will employ 46 people, including 36 full-timers. A job fair is scheduled for late August or early September.

“And then, if everything goes as planned, we’re hoping to open in October,” said Shannon Halverson, Goodwill Northern Illinois’ public relations and marketing manager.

As with all Goodwill locations, volunteers will be needed.

“We’ve definitely had people who have volunteered and then ended up being employed in our stores down the line,” Halverson said.

Goodwill Northern Illinois anticipates more than 1.4 million pounds of “potential” landfill items will be resold, reused, recycled, or renewed from or at its Huntley location. The store will feature a drive-through lane, where drivers can drop off donations without leaving their vehicles.

Among the most common donations is computer equipment, and Goodwill estimates 60,000 pounds of it will be recycled at the new store each year.

Overall, Goodwill believes 36,000 area residents will make yearly donations, with each donation creating $34 in revenue to support Goodwill programs and services, including its popular “Attire to Hire” program.

“That program helps individuals who are interviewing for a job but just don’t have professional clothing,” Halverson said. “So they’ll come to us, and we make sure they have the right clothing and look their best so they can get the job.”

Last year, Goodwill Northern Illinois assisted more than 3,900 individuals in the communities they serve.

The Huntley store, which received Village Board approval over the winter, will be Goodwill Northern Illinois’ ninth location. The opening of its eighth, a McHenry store, is scheduled July 21.

Goodwill Southeast Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago operates stores in Carpentersville and South Elgin.