It’s been a busy past few weeks for the non-profit organization CommunityWorks.
In September, LaTorrie Geer will officially step in as CEO after being selected for the position back in August, and the organization is also opening its new learning center at the newly renovated Judson Mill located at 701 Easley Bridge Road.
After 10 years spent with the organization, the past four of which she served as COO, Geer said she feels well-prepared for the responsibility, crediting the training she received during her time with the organization.
“We truly invest in our team and I think that they are excited about the opportunities that they could have for growth in the organization,” Geer said.
After joining the team as a program manager, working her way up from director of operations to COO and now CEO, she has seen the organization grow and expand to meet current needs. At the same time, she’s also served the team through an unprecedented health crisis wrought by the pandemic. In response, CommunityWorks was able to support small-business owners as it administered more than $9 million throughout the state to more than 600 individuals.
“I’m so thankful that we were agile and we’re able to adapt quickly to the needs of the community,” she said.
Introducing CommunityWorks Learning Center
Now as another way to continue improving the local community, CommunityWorks has opened its new learning center located in Judson Mill.
Considered the old behemoth of local mill buildings, Judson Mill was once the largest mill in Greenville County, operated by Milliken, just outside of downtown and West Greenville.
In recent years, the mill has undergone a major overhaul, with more than 800,000 square feet of historic building space transformed into loft apartments and amenities such as a community pool, fitness center and courtyard, as well as an entertainment center headlined by Blok Haven Climbing Gym and the country-themed music venue Cowboy Up Night Light, not to mention the massive food hub Feed & Seed, which provides food to underserved communities throughout the Upstate.
Now add to that CommunityWorks Learning Center.
The CommunityWorks Learning Center at JudHub opened on Aug. 25 and will offer events to assist community members, in addition to offering free or affordable training sessions for finances and entrepreneurship and office hours for entrepreneurs to meet with business coaches.
“We’re bringing community assets to a community that once may have felt abandoned, but now they’re truly seeing greater benefits coming into the area,” Geer said.
Her vision is to be as community-focused as possible, whether it is through affordable housing or job creation.
“We’re excited about our learning center… and being able to provide training opportunities,” Geer said.
