PSW moving transportation hub into town
Facility under construction
By August, PSW will consolidate more of its operations at the South Poplar Avenue location with the opening of its new transportation center next to the corporate offices.
Construction began on the maintenance building at 194 S. Poplar Ave. earlier this year and according to Ron Killingsworth, director of marketing and legislative affairs, they should be able to move their entire transportation fleet to the new location in August.
The facility is being constructed next door to the corporate offices which are now in the old Josten’s building which PSW purchased a few years ago.
“The reason we are moving it is to save money,” said Killingsworth. The existing transportation center is located on South Newcomb Street, across the street from the Porterville Municipal Airport. Killingsworth said by moving the transportation operation into town where the buses mainly operate, it could save the organization roughly $100,000 a year.
“By not having to drive into Porterville, the savings are enough to afford this move,” he said.
PSW, formerly called Porterville Sheltered Workshop but now PSW stands for Promoting Self Worth, moved its administrative offices and some of its employment services to the 91,000 square foot building in late 2013. Those operations had been at the Olive Avenue site, which had been home to the organization since 1976.
Foster Farms stills leases about 48,000 square feet at the Poplar Avenue site.
The new facility will house PSW’S fleet of 28 buses, four vans and other vehicles and will include a water efficient washing station. Killingsworth said their vehicles travel a combined more than 400,000 miles a year.
As to the property on Newcomb, Killingsworth said, “We’d love to lease that whole property.” The organization which provides employment opportunities for those with disabilities, has a shop and offices on five acres at the Newcomb site.