North End Career Center opens after $2M renovation of vacant building

Back in February, we brought you the story of a vacant building in the North End that would receive a $2M renovation for a career center. We were there for the big grand opening today to see the improvements.

The North End Career Center will permanently house Goodwill Detroit’s Flip the Script and Center for Working Families programs. These two programs combined will provide job skills, GED services, literacy programs, and financial education to those in need. They expect to serve 700 individuals annually.

The North End Career Center was developed through a joint venture between Goodwill and Vanguard. Vanguard acquired and developed a long-vacant commercial property into the 10,000-square-foot building. This project leveraged a total community investment of $2 million. JPMorgan Chase invested $1 million to the project, the Kresge Foundation contributed a $750,000 grant, and Detroit LISC provided construction financing to bridge long-term funding commitments. The general contractor was minority-owned and local North End business O’Brien Edwards Construction.

The North End Career Center will feature two large conference rooms with six individual classrooms. It will be equipped with state of the art audio visuals, sound, and WiFi. The building will also feature computer systems, along with educational and GED preparation resources. Here’s a look inside.

Grid View

• Vacant Building Will Get $2M Renovation to Create North End Workforce Readiness Center [Curbed Detroit]