Goodwill Opens Wilmington Opportunity Hub and Rolls Out New Career-Mobility Tech to Connect People to Work

Goodwill brings a one-stop center and new tech to help people move into better work

Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County announced it will open an Opportunity Hub in Wilmington and begin using a new career-mobility platform designed to help residents get training, coaching and job placement in one place. The rollout starts this winter with a public launch in Wilmington and a phased expansion of services over the next year. Goodwill says the goal is simple: reduce the friction that stops people from taking a job or advancing in a career by putting training, support and employer connections under one roof and behind one screen.

The move pairs a physical center where people can meet staff and use computers, with software that tracks skills, suggests training paths, matches candidates to open roles, and helps employers post clearer job pathways. For people juggling childcare, transportation and low-wage work, Goodwill and its partners hope the Hub will make it easier to find the right next step.

How the Opportunity Hub and the career-mobility platform will work

The Opportunity Hub is built to be a simple, local place to get help and a digital tool to keep progress moving between visits. On the ground, visitors will find career coaches, computer stations, short skills classes and connections to local training providers. The center will also host employer hiring events and workshops on topics such as resume writing and interviewing.

The new career-mobility platform is the software the organization will use to coordinate services. Users will create a basic profile, list skills and employment goals, and then see suggested next steps — short courses, apprenticeships, or immediate job openings. The platform records outcomes so coaches can follow up. It also provides a clearer way for employers to define entry-level roles that lead to higher pay with training milestones along the way.

Goodwill says the user experience is meant to be low-barrier: staff will help people set up profiles, and the interface is designed for those with limited tech comfort. Services offered at launch include short-term certificate courses, one-on-one coaching, mock interviews, and employer partnerships for direct placement. The organization also plans to add wraparound supports such as help with transportation, work clothes or childcare referrals when funding allows.

Who stands to gain from the new Hub

The Hub is aimed first at Wilmington residents who are unemployed or underemployed, people returning from incarceration, and those who have only had part-time or low-wage work. Goodwill expects to serve hundreds of people in the first year and aims to scale after that by building stronger employer ties.

Concrete examples include a retail worker who wants to move into logistics and can take a short certificate that leads to an entry role with on-the-job training, or a young parent who needs flexible class schedules and coaching to complete a credential that local employers value. For employers, the Hub offers a pipeline of candidates already vetted and given basic workplace coaching — a practical help when hiring is tight for front-line roles.

Beyond individual gains, the Hub is pitched as a way to boost neighborhood economies by keeping more people in the workforce and nudging wages higher where skills are in demand.

Who’s paying, who’s running it, and how it will stay open

Funding for the Hub comes from a mix of sources: Goodwill’s own nonprofit funds, grants from local foundations, and contributions from workforce development partners and employers. The organization plans a phased opening to match funding cycles and to prove the model before expanding services.

Operationally, Goodwill will staff the Hub with career coaches, a site manager, and a small tech support team to keep the platform running and to help users. Sustainability depends on continued grant support, fee-for-service arrangements with some employers, and public workforce dollars that are commonly used to fund job-training programs.

That mix is common in the sector, but it means the Hub’s long-term reach will depend on renewing grants and building steady employer partnerships. Goodwill acknowledges those are active goals for the project team.

Voices from Goodwill, partners and a participant

“We built the Hub because people kept telling us they needed one place to go that connects learning with real jobs,” said the president and CEO of Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County. “This is about making career steps easier and clearer for people who have too many barriers.”

A representative from a partnering community college said, “The platform lets us match short, stackable certificates to local employer needs so students can see how each class moves them closer to a job.”

One recent participant who tested the program added, “Before, I had to figure out training, childcare and travel on my own. Here someone sat with me, mapped out steps, and helped me apply for jobs that fit my schedule.”

Why the Hub matters in a changing local job market

The Wilmington region, like many mid-size cities, faces a split job market. Employers report steady demand for entry-level roles in health care, logistics and hospitality, while openings that pay more often require specific skills or credentials. Wages have risen in some sectors, but gaps remain between available workers and the training employers want.

The Hub is designed to address that gap by turning employer needs into clearer training paths. If it succeeds, employers get better-prepared hires and workers get shorter, less risky routes to higher pay. The program does not change underlying labor-market forces overnight, but it can smooth transitions and reduce wasted time for jobseekers who otherwise drift between low-paying roles.

There is also a practical limit: the Hub can help many people improve their prospects, but broader shifts in housing, childcare and transport will still shape how far residents can move up.

How to access the Hub and enroll

The Opportunity Hub opens this winter in central Wilmington with regular hours and drop-in service. Residents can register in person at the center or by calling Goodwill’s local office. Goodwill will run orientation sessions and enrollment days; specific schedules will be posted at its local sites and announced through partner organizations.

For now, walk-ins are welcome but appointments are recommended for coaching sessions to ensure staff availability.

Sources

• prnewswire.com