Goodwill Closes Four Middle Tennessee Career Centers, Citing Competition In Thrift Business

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee shuttered four of its career centers over the weekend. 

The nonprofit employer blames a rise in competition from online sales and consignment stores, which has driven down revenue from Goodwill’s thrift stores. These retail outlets fund the nonprofit’s primary mission of job training for the disabled and people with barriers to employment.

The closures include the career center in the Melrose area of Nashville, one on Fort Campbell Boulevard in Clarksville and another on Nashville Pike in Gallatin. A career center in Jackson is also closing.

Only 14 of Goodwill’s more than 2,000 employees in Middle Tennessee are losing their jobs immediately. None of Goodwill’s retail stores is closing.

“After consulting with other Goodwills around the country and many difficult deliberations, we are implementing changes that are necessary to make our donated goods operations more streamlined and efficient and to ensure Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee’s mission continues to grow and thrive in the 48 counties we serve,” spokesman Chris Fletcher said in a statement.

*Correction: The original version of this post said Goodwill was closing four of its retail stores. We regret the error.