The Godman Guild, an organization first established in Columbus in 1898, is ready to begin a new chapter in its history with the purchase of a building in Downtown’s Discovery District.
The 35,000-square-foot building, at 195 N. Grant Ave., will serve as the organization’s headquarters and as the site of a new workforce development center offering career training, after school programming, and other supportive services.
“We believe this move will increase the value of the programs and services we offer in collaboration with many of the community-wide workforce development initiatives”, said Ellen Moss, President and CEO of the Guild, in a statement. “Having a more centrally located building will allow us to be more easily accessible for participants from all parts of Franklin County.”
The Guild announced last year that it would be selling its building at 303 E. Sixth Ave. in Weinland Park. Marker Development bought the property and is now in the process of building a five-story, 275-unit building on the site.
The target opening date for the new, renovated building is “sometime in 2023,” according to a press release. In the meantime the organization will be conducting a fundraising campaign to help with the cost of renovations.
Currently occupying the building is Ohio Guidestone, an organization specializing in behavioral health. Solo Karoulla, Chief Philanthropy Officer for Godman Guild, said that Ohio Guidestone will be remaining in the building as a tenant, and that additional space could potentially be leased out to other nonprofit partners.
For more information, see www.godmanguild.org.