Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois and the Wisconsin Stateline Area, Inc. is a community-based nonprofit organization that provides education and employment for persons in need and promotes enterprise development in support of job creation.  Established in 1936 by the Community Chest, in Rockford, Illinois, it is a member of Goodwill Industries International, the world’s largest employer of individuals with disabilities and special needs.  Doing business as Abilities Center, Goodwill serves more than 1,000 persons annually.

Goodwill stores in northern Illinois (Rockford, Freeport, and Sterling) and in Beloit, Wisconsin employ over 115 people and, thanks to the generous donations of area residents, are the primary support for Abilities Center’s education programs.

Abilities Center’s education programs focus on developing participant employability.  Its MULTITREX® project-based curriculum is organized with the goal of helping participants become self-directed, independent learners.  It operates businesses in the fields in which it provides training because it recognizes the importance of authentic learning environments in the development of job skills. 

Abilities Center works with employers throughout the region to deliver custom, on-demand training to fulfill their workforce needs and to provide opportunities for the participants of its programs.