Advo's Hope Village Phase 2 begins construction for a brighter, more inclusive future

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·3 min read

Advo is looking toward the future as they move forward with the creation of Hope Village.

As previously reported by the Globe-News, Advo will begin construction in April to build Phase 2 of Hope Village, a fully ADA accessible, transitional employment center, to better integrate learning, independence and physical development into the daily lives of the individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities that they service.

As a part of Phase 2, Advo will build several structures that will become on site: a coffee, tea, deli, and ice cream shop; an embroidery/screen print shop; a custom framing shop; and a warehouse. This will allow their clients the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in these positions as they work and manage the businesses.

Advo and Hope to Opportunities Foundation began the Hope Village project after raising $3.1 million for Phase One of their Five Phase campaign to create a Transitional Employment Center and Park for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Advo will begin construction in April to build Phase 2.
Advo and Hope to Opportunities Foundation began the Hope Village project after raising $3.1 million for Phase One of their Five Phase campaign to create a Transitional Employment Center and Park for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Advo will begin construction in April to build Phase 2.
Advo and Hope to Opportunities Foundation began the Hope Village project after raising $3.1 million for Phase One of their Five Phase campaign to create a Transitional Employment Center and Park for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Advo will begin construction in April to build Phase 2.
Advo and Hope to Opportunities Foundation began the Hope Village project after raising $3.1 million for Phase One of their Five Phase campaign to create a Transitional Employment Center and Park for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Advo will begin construction in April to build Phase 2.

Groundbreaking for Phase One of the project was held in April 2022, following the completion of funding for Advo's Warehouse and Consumer Shops Shell Package and Parking. The total cost for the phase was estimated at $3.1 million.

According to Rick McElroy, general manager of Hope Village, Advo is partnering with Palace Coffee to help with the coffee and tea shop and to establish training standards. The organization stated that although the all-in-one food shop has been established through local partnership, the name will not be announced until a later date.

More:Advo announces completion of Phase 1 of Hope village; to begin construction in April

McElroy said that the organization has come to the decision to name the embroidery shop "Threads of Inclusion"; meanwhile, the framing shop name is still under deliberation.

"We have about 300 individuals on our waiting list, so this will be able to help narrow that down quite a bit and be able to open up more," McElroy said. "That 300 is because of us; it's not because that is where the need ended. There is so much more need out there, but right now, we just can't handle it all. But, with Hope Village, we can work to meet those needs."

After the businesses have been established, Advo will then allow time for their clients to learn their new roles before presenting the businesses to the public. According to Advo, the shops will be monitored and supervised by trained Advo Companies employees to help improve the skills of their students and prepare them for competitive outside employment.

"This will be presented to them exactly as a job outside of our facility. They will create a resume and apply for the positions. They will learn skills here, job training, that they can apply in positions later on, all to prepare them for a more independent life," said Jeremy Bradford, Vice President of Development at Advo.

Advo and Hope to Opportunities Foundation began the Hope Village project after raising $3.1 million for Phase One of their Five Phase campaign to create a Transitional Employment Center and Park for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Advo will begin construction in April to build Phase 2.
Advo and Hope to Opportunities Foundation began the Hope Village project after raising $3.1 million for Phase One of their Five Phase campaign to create a Transitional Employment Center and Park for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Advo will begin construction in April to build Phase 2.
Advo and Hope to Opportunities Foundation began the Hope Village project after raising $3.1 million for Phase One of their Five Phase campaign to create a Transitional Employment Center and Park for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Advo will begin construction in April to build Phase 2.
Advo and Hope to Opportunities Foundation began the Hope Village project after raising $3.1 million for Phase One of their Five Phase campaign to create a Transitional Employment Center and Park for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Advo will begin construction in April to build Phase 2.

Tanya, a client with Advo, spoke about her passion for helping others and what she looks forward to when Hope Village is created.

"I have been here for 18 years, and I like it so much because I help other people. I have had jobs to help make aprons, napkins. I have worked with the Sod Poodles and other jobs. It means a lot to me to help others. With (Hope Village), I would like to help with the deli or maybe a bakery; I want to be like a role model to show others and train them," Tanya said.

Bradford stated that with the new positions, Hope Village will be able to help an additional 70 to 100 individuals prepare to enter the Amarillo workforce.

Phase 2 of the project includes the addition of landscaping and introduction of their clientele to the new space in anticipation of the public opening. This phase is estimated to cost a total $3.2 million. The organization currently has $1.5 million raised toward that goal. Completion of Phase 2 is estimated for February 2024, with an official grand opening in April 2024.

For more information or to make a donation to Advo, visit them online at https://www.advocompanies.org/ .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Advo looks forward to Hope Village finish of Phase 2 construction