At the corner of Cherry Lane and I-30 — where aging commercial corridors meet one of Fort Worth’s most underserved neighborhoods — a new kind of opportunity is taking shape. Presbyterian Night Shelter (PNS), the nonprofit behind the city’s largest shelter system, is launching The Greater Good Collective, a bold expansion of its UpSpire social enterprise model, according to a release. The project aims to transform donated real estate into a hub for hands-on job training, wraparound support, and purpose-driven employment opportunities for individuals who are often left behind.
The Greater Good Collective is more than a job site — it’s a reinvestment in lives, neighborhoods, and second chances. Made possible by the donation of a commercial property on the city’s far west side, the new campus will serve as a home base for several microbusinesses and two mission-aligned UpSpire ventures: a handyman service and a junk removal operation. Both are designed to provide low-barrier, entry-level trade work, while offering employees real-time job training, a structured team environment, and the dignity of earning a paycheck.
“This incredibly generous donation presents us with an extraordinary opportunity — not only to expand our UpSpire workforce and create new jobs and training pathways, but also to deepen our commitment to helping individuals build stability, earn income, and reclaim their futures through purpose-driven employment,” said Toby Owen, CEO of Presbyterian Night Shelter.
UpSpire was founded in 2016 as the social enterprise arm of PNS, built around a simple premise: give people a job, support them, and watch what happens. Since then, the program has expanded to include contracts with city departments and private companies across Fort Worth, encompassing a range of services, from landscaping and janitorial work to warehouse operations and litter abatement. One of its most celebrated ventures, WOODWORKS by UpSpire, offers hands-on carpentry training through furniture building, allowing participants to hone a craft and take pride in their work.
The Greater Good Collective builds on that success and expands it. In addition to the handyman and junk removal services, the site will house two community-facing businesses — Greater Give, a donation intake and sorting center, and Greater Grab, a curated thrift store. Both will generate revenue while creating more jobs for people who may face obstacles to full-time employment.
“This is exactly the kind of investment West Fort Worth needs — one that revitalizes spaces, creates jobs, and tackles disparities in neighborhoods like Las Vegas Trail, all while strengthening our local economy and uplifting families,” said Fort Worth City Councilman Michael Crain.
Renovation of the space is expected to begin in late 2025, following the completion of fundraising efforts. The Collective’s first businesses will launch in phases starting in 2026.
Through it all, the philosophy remains consistent: workforce as a vehicle for healing. Every UpSpire position comes with access to coaching, scheduling flexibility, and a built-in support system — the kind that helps someone move from surviving to thriving.
As Owen puts it, “The Greater Good Collective will prioritize employment for populations who often face barriers to full-time work — especially women and mothers — and will offer wraparound supports like workforce coaching, flexible scheduling, and trauma-informed practices.”
