Goodwill Houston officials will host a grand opening celebration Dec. 9 to cut the ribbon on the new Goodwill Education & Training Center on Gessner Road.

What we know

According to a Nov. 10 news release, the center is designed to bridge "the opportunity gap" and help community members gain the skills they need to thrive in today's workforce, a mission that includes empowering individuals through education, career pathway training and access to job opportunities.

“Goodwill Houston is proud to launch its first Education and Training Center in the South Gessner community, a groundbreaking facility designed to empower our workforce through innovation and opportunity,” Alma Duldulao Ybarra, Chief Mission Officer at Goodwill Houston, said. “This center is the first of its kind in the Goodwill network."

The release states that the center's programs will focus on repair and maintenance, information technology and clean technology. Participants will also have access to career readiness workshops, personalized coaching, community resources and job placement services.


Ybarra said by 2026, Goodwill anticipates serving over a thousand individuals at the center.

Something to note

The grand opening will include a tour of the facility and a meet-and-greet with the Goodwill team. The event start at 11:30 a.m.