Christine Zemanek, executive director the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation, and local developer Hugh S. Ferguson (both pictured below) discuss Tacoma Goodwill’s new job center during Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. Tacoma Goodwill officials announced the $20-million, LEED-Silver certified job center, presently under construction at the corner of South 27th Street and Tacoma Avenue, will be named the Tacoma Goodwill-Milgard Work Opportunity Center when it is completed in fall 2009.

Tacoma Goodwill officials announced the $20-million, LEED-Silver certified job center, presently under construction at the corner of South 27th Street and Tacoma Avenue, will be named the Tacoma Goodwill-Milgard Work Opportunity Center when it is completed in fall 2009.

The Milgard Foundation donated $2.5 million toward the project. Ferguson donated $1 million toward the project, and also built and donated Goodwill stores in Port Townsend and Tacoma.

When the three-story, 63,000-square-foot facility is completed, Tacoma Goodwill officials say the center will help the organization achieve its goal to triple services in Pierce County over the next five years.