Bank of America announced a $250,000 grant to Goodwill Southeast Georgia to fund the construction of a new Community Opportunity Campus in East Savannah. The grant, detailed by Grice Connect, will help build workforce‑training labs, classrooms, shared partner service spaces, and the digital and technology infrastructure needed for the campus to operate.
Located at 761 Wheaton Street, the project will repurpose a 110,000‑square‑foot former State Division of Family & Children Services and Department of Aging facility. Goodwill plans to transform the building into a centralized community hub that can serve more than 6,000 people each year, offering workforce training, adult education, health‑care access, financial‑literacy programs, and family‑support services under one roof.
“Strong communities are built when people have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed,” said Patrick O’Neil, president of Bank of America Savannah. “Bank of America is proud to support organizations, like Goodwill Southeast Georgia, that are creating pathways to economic opportunity in Savannah.” The bank’s contribution is earmarked to accelerate both the construction timeline and the campus’s opening, according to the report.
Goodwill Southeast Georgia’s president and CEO, Jason Marshall, expressed gratitude for the partnership, stating, “Goodwill Southeast Georgia is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of Bank of America. The Goodwill Community Opportunity Campus has the potential to change the trajectory of many who struggle to gain traction as they work to move from a job to a better job and ultimately to a career.”
The new campus is expected to bring together a range of service providers, creating a one‑stop location where residents can receive training, education, health services, and financial counseling without having to travel across the city. By consolidating these resources, the initiative aims to reduce barriers to economic mobility for Savannah’s underserved populations.
Community leaders and local officials have welcomed the development, noting that the project aligns with broader efforts to strengthen Savannah’s workforce and improve access to essential services. The grant underscores a growing trend of private‑sector investment in community‑focused infrastructure, a model that many see as vital for long‑term economic resilience.
Goodwill Southeast Georgia anticipates that the campus will begin serving the public once construction is complete, though a specific opening date was not provided in the source material.
Sources: griceconnect.com