Florida TaxWatch Report, More Than A Store: The Fiscal and Economic Impacts of Goodwill in Florida, Outlines Estimated $1.2 Billion through Jobs and Services

Tallahassee, Fla. - Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its report, More Than A Store: The Fiscal and Economic Impacts of Goodwill in Florida at a Florida Capitol press conference in Tallahassee. After operating in Florida for more than 50 years, Goodwill continues to provide numerous benefits to Floridians by using its sustainable business model of selling donated goods. Goodwill provides significant job opportunities, economic development, and community support for thousands of Floridians each year - and with the holiday season in full swing, they also provide local communities with gift and donation options for friends and family.

Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, "The Florida Goodwill Association provides several impactful initiatives that help stimulate economic and workforce development by providing employment opportunities for individuals who often have barriers to entering the workforce through traditional means. These programs have a direct impact on Florida's communities and economy and an estimated $1.2 billion in economic output value for 2023. Moreover, these Goodwill programs add tremendous dignity to the lives of the clients and communities they serve. They are truly, more than a store."

President and CEO, Goodwill Manasota, and Chair, Florida Goodwill Association, Donn Githens said, "The Florida Goodwill Association wanted to measure our economic impact and there is no better organization than Florida TaxWatch to provide the information needed. Florida Goodwill Association consists of nine territories that are independently run and governed by their own local volunteer board of directors, and this study collectively shows the tremendous economic impact we have across the state and in our local communities."

The nine established territories include the Big Bend, Central Florida, Gulf Coast, Gulfstream, Manasota, North Florida, South Florida, Southwest Florida, and Suncoast. Each of these territories provides critical services and programs that are focused on the direct needs of each community and contribute to the collective statewide impacts in 2023 as outlined below. Please go to the report for specific statistics within each territory (excluding those of the Central Florida territory).

Economic Impacts:

• Provided an estimated $1.2 billion in economic impact;
• Contributed $652 million to Florida's GDP; and
• Added $127 million in personal income growth across the state.

Fiscal Impacts:

• Collected more than $20 million in local and state sales tax; and
• Paid a total of $50 million in direct and indirect tax dollars to the state.

Jobs Created and Job Placements:

• One in 24 job placements in the State of Florida for the year 2023 is accredited to Goodwill;
• Employed more than 14,800 individuals within Goodwill's organization; and
• Placed more than 4,000 individuals in jobs within their local communities.

State Senator Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville) said, "Goodwill has several programs that help youth and adults gain workforce and critical life skills. One example is the Take Stock in Children program that offers mentoring services for students seeking higher education and scholarship opportunities. In North Florida, 450 students have participated in the program with a 100 percent high school graduation rate. In 2023, they served over 20,000 people through its various programs, and through its job placement programs, this territory adds an additional 1,686 job placements. Incredibly, Goodwill added a much-needed economic impact of $297.8 million to 14 North Florida counties."

Goodwill program offerings are grouped into seven categories with each having numerous subcategories customized for each territory's needs, including career services/readiness, community services, housing services, re-entry services, veteran services, youth services, and other. Ninety percent of the dollars earned by Goodwill territories in Florida go directly to program activities. This is significantly higher than the 65 percent minimum established by the Better Business Bureau's Standards for Charity Accountability.

Goodwill receives donations and contributions from people of the community it serves, and the return earned from Goodwill can be seen in both its economic impact to that community and its mission fulfillment.

To learn more please click here.

About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute, and the trusted "eyes and ears" of Florida taxpayers for more than 45 years, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on taxpayers and businesses. FTW is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled FTW to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the taxpayers it has served since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.

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