Goodwill Southern California has opened an outlet store in Riverside.
The facility, called a warehouse clearance center by the nonprofit, opened April 4 at 1049 Spruce St.
Customers will find the usual array of Goodwill merchandise in large bins. They can browse items in these bins, choose what they want from them and then pay by the pound.
“We are excited to open our Warehouse Clearance Center in Riverside,” said Patrick McClenahan, the organization’s president and chief executive.
Here is the price breakdown for Goodwill Southern California’s Outlet Stores:
- Textiles – $3.19 per pound
- Hard goods – $1.19 per pound
- Linens – $2.49 per pound
- Pillows – $1.25 per pound
- Books – $1.00 per pound
- CDs – $0.75 per pound
- DVDs – $1.25 per pound
- Toys – $1.39 per pound
Goodwill SoCal said the pricing does not fluctuate depending on the day of the week (like the discounts offered at some Goodwill retail stores). Shoppers will often find clothing, books, home goods and more in the bins.
The nonprofit has at least 100 locations — including retail stores, outlets, boutiques and attended donation centers in Los Angeles (north of Rosecrans Boulevard), Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Another outlet store operates at at 8120 Palm Lane in San Bernardino.
Nursing college coming to Corona
Westcliff University, a private, for-profit institution aimed at career professionals, is adding a nursing school to its curriculum.
Aimed at tackling a growing shortage of nurses in the healthcare industry, the university is opening its College of Nursing this fall in Corona.
The campus at 4140 Temescal Canyon Road will offer two pre-licensure programs: a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and the entry-level master’s degree in nursing (ELM) for students who have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in another field.
Graduates from either track would be eligible to sit for nursing board exams in order to become registered nurses and to obtain public health nurse certification after being licensed.
The application portal is open at westcliff.edu/nursing. Applicants for the BSN will need a high school diploma or GED and a 2.75 grade point average, plus a composite score of 65 on Test of Essential Academic Skills, known as TEAS. Master’s program candidates need bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited institution and a 2.75 GPA.
The College of Nursing is the fifth college for the Irvine-based university, which already has colleges in business, education, technology and engineering and law.
Plasma donation facility opens in Riverside
A plasma donation facility recently opened in Riverside.
Octapharma Plasma, which has 18 donation centers in California, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 8 at 4822 La Sierra Ave.
The facilities pay qualified donors for their plasma, which is used in myriad medical procedures, including infusions for immune disorders and other ailments.
For more information, go to octapharmaplasma.com
Burlington buys its distribution hub for $257M
Burlington Distribution recently paid $257 million for the 889,445-square-foot industrial warehouse it previously leased at 21600 Cactus Ave. in Riverside.
The seller was BlackRock, which leased the facility to the discount retailer when it opened in 2019.
“Burlington’s commitment to this location is a testament to the Inland Empire’s status as a leading industrial market,” said Mark Zorn, a vice chairman at Colliers, which represented Burlington in the sale. “The Inland Empire industrial market continued to see elevated demand in Q4 2024, with leasing activity surpassing 10 million square feet for the third consecutive quarter.”
Burlington has seen a spurt of retail growth in recent years. The company opened 101 new stores and relocated 31 older oversized locations in 2024 with plans to open another 100 new stores this year.
On the move
Krista Hollinger is the incoming president and chief executive at Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. She is the organization’s chief operating officer and will rise to CEO on July 1, after Jon Dunn steps down from the role after 31 years. Hollinger, who first started her career with the organization as a program manager, rejoined PPOSBC in December 2021, and previously was chief administrative officer for Obstetrics and Gynecology at UC Irvine Health.
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Melody Hendrickson, a public information officer with Riverside County, was honored with the Communicator of the Year Award during an awards dinner held April 3 by California Public Information Officials or CAPIO. (Photo courtesy of CAPIO)
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Melody Hendrickson, a public information officer with Riverside County, was honored with the Communicator of the Year Award during an awards dinner held April 3 by California Public Information Officials or CAPIO. (Photo courtesy of CAPIO)
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Milestones
Melody Hendrickson, a public information officer with Riverside County, was honored with the Communicator of the Year Award during an awards dinner held April 3 by California Public Information Officials or CAPIO. The award recognizes someone who leads their organization to “greater and more successful communications and public engagement.” CAPIO is a trade group for government communication professionals in California.
Also at the CAPIO awards ceremony, Jayli Barkley, a principal information specialist for Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, received the organization’s second Rising Star award. It honors those who have used the first five years of their career to “showcase exceptional abilities, growth, and determination in advancing public engagement and outreach for their agency.”
The Riverside-based fire helmet manufacturer Phenix Technology was awarded the 2025 W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award by the National Association of Workforce Boards. The company was recognized for its “outstanding leadership, community partnerships and innovative approach to workforce development.” Phenix’s program Opportunity for All helps people with disabilities and others facing barriers to employment. The program is run by the company’s nonprofit, Phenix Gateway. “Opportunity for All has helped prove that individuals who have historically been excluded from the workforce don’t just contribute — they elevate organizations,” said Angel Sanchez, CEO of Phenix. The company makes helmets worn by first responders all over the world.
Kelly and Duane Roberts, owners of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, were honored April 9 with the 2024 Steward of History and Historic Preservation Award by the Historic Hotels of America. “The Mission Inn is the soul of Riverside, and preserving its legacy is a privilege and a deep-rooted passion of Kelly and Duane Roberts…” the Roberts family said.
The business briefs are compiled and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items to sgowen@scng.com. High-resolution images can also be submitted. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
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