History

NW Works, Inc. has held a unique and respected position in this community since 1970. Originally started under the name "Northwestern Workshop", our program was first housed in the old Friendship Fire Hall on Cork Street in Winchester, Virginia. At that time, Northwestern Workshop employed five workers, one staff, and one work contract. In 1972, Northwestern Workshop moved to a warehouse building on North Cameron Street, where it remained until 1980.

Northwestern Workshop built a 21,000 sq. ft. building at 828 Smithfield Avenue in 1980. In November 1998, the construction of an additional 6,000 square feet of space was completed at the Smithfield Avenue facility. That year, Northwestern Workshop had a record breaking year with the overall budget "in the black" after depreciation for the second straight year. As of June 1999, Northwestern Workshop had grown from one work crew enclave* to eight and had thirty-three people in community job placements. During 1999, Northwestern Workshop completed work for a total of thirty-nine different contractors.

Northwestern Workshop, Inc. changed its name to NW Works, Inc. in 2003. The decision to change our name was made to reflect more of the needs of the organization now and in the future, and to reflect that we are not "bound" to a workshop site. The NW Works custodial, grounds, and landscaping business grew to provide services at five local industries and four NISH government contracts located in Beltsville, Maryland and Front Royal, Virginia.

In 2004, NW Works purchased land on Shady Elm Road for the future site of a new 45,000 square foot WorkCenter.

NW Works held its first "Haunted Casino Night" fundraiser to benefit the Building Fund in 2006. This event was a real hit and it was decided that "Casino Night" would become an annual event. 2006 also brought the kickoff of the "Walk of Fame" brick campaign, also to raise money for the Building Fund.

In 2008, NW Works was selected as recipient of the 23rd annual WINC Chain of Checks campaign. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefited the YES! (Youth Employment Superstars) Program.

Governor Tim Kaine visited NW Works in 2009 and announced that NW Works was selected as a recipient of one million dollars in stimulus funding as part of a community block grant. All stimulus funding approved for NW Works was designated for site work at our new WorkCenter. NW Works held its fourth annual "Haunted Casino Night" at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to help celebrate the Alamo's opening in October of 2009. In December of 2009, NW Works purchased an existing 58,000 sq. ft. facility located at 3085 Shawnee Drive. Formerly occupied by Melnor, this building would require renovation but held potential and promise as the future home of NW Works.

3D Shredding, a division of NW Works, opened in January of 2010. 3D Shredding offers security, flexibility, and affordability to both businesses and individuals while providing valuable paid employment opportunities to NW Works' workers. In 2010, renovations began at the Shawnee Drive facility. NW Works fifth annual Casino Night took place in December at the Shawnee Drive facility to allow the public to get a sneak peek at the new building. The "Holiday Casino Night" was the most successful Casino Night event to date.

In January of 2011, after 30 years in the Smithfield Avenue facility, NW Works officially moved into its new "home". The Work Center is now located on 3085 Shawnee Drive in Winchester.

*The term "enclave" is widely used to denote a group of clients working at an off-site location for a community business.