Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries on Thursday broke ground on its new Independence store, marking the beginning of the transformation of a long-vacant property into a modern retail destination that will serve shoppers, donors and the broader community.
The nearly 18,000-square-foot store, to be located near the intersection of KY-17 and McCullum Pike, is part of Goodwill’s long-term commitment to Northern Kentucky and its broader $230 million, five-year strategy to expand to 30 stores across the region by 2030.
The new store will be one of Goodwill’s next-generation retail prototypes, designed to provide bright, open shopping areas, improved accessibility, enhanced merchandising, expanded stockroom and loading areas, and a convenient drive-up donation area.
Ohio Valley Goodwill President and CEO Mark Hiemstra, Ohio Valley Goodwill Board Chair Keith Cheesman, and Jeff Haglage, owner of Haglage Construction, the company overseeing the project, spoke at the event. Following the remarks, Goodwill leaders and Haglage turned the first soil at the future store site, officially marking the start of construction.
“Today is about much more than breaking ground on a new building. It’s about creating opportunities for the people of Northern Kentucky,” said Hiemstra. “Every donation and every purchase made here will help fuel job training, employment, housing support and other programs that empower individuals and strengthen our communities. This store is an investment in Independence today and in the people it will serve for decades to come.”
Goodwill operates 22 retail locations across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, connecting communities to convenient places to donate and shop while funding services that strengthen individuals and families throughout the region. The Independence store will be one of three retail locations in Northern Kentucky and the only one serving Kenton County.
“This groundbreaking reflects years of thoughtful planning, collaboration and investment in the future of our region,” said Cheesman. “At Goodwill, we don’t measure success by buildings alone. We measure it by the lives we help change, and every new store expands our ability to create opportunities for individuals, families and communities.”
Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries