New Horizons Ministries recently began construction on its new thrift store and warehouse at 2930 N. Elizabeth St.

The 25,000-square-foot building will include about 17,000 square feet of retail space. Construction is set to be completed by year's end.

"We're happy to be underway finally," New Horizons chief financial officer Matt Lapp said of the project, first announced about a year ago.

"There's going to be a lot of activity over the next six months. We're excited, not just to build a new store but all of the landscaping.

"Also, we're excited about the location."

Canon City-based New Horizons provides housing, transportation and nanny care for the infant children of inmate mothers who are imprisoned usually for two years or less.

It also operates a thrift store in Canon City.

The thrift stores provide about 60 percent of nonprofits' funding with the remaining financial support coming from the general public and grants, officials have said.

The new store will replace one that has operated for eight years in a leased section of the University Plaza shopping center at 745 Desert Flower Blvd.

A feature of the Elizabeth Street project is New Horizon's decision to keep part of the existing building, a former site of Rosario's Restaurant.

Keeping the section, which includes a basement, allows for more usable retail and warehouse space and fewer building setback requirements, Lapp said.

ddarrow@chieftain.com