jobradio.fm
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Chicago Jobs Created by Wal-Mart
A need to create Chicago jobs is allowing at least one big box store to develop in the city.
The City Council zoning committee recently approved plans for a second Wal-Mart on the south side of Chicago, where the company has been trying to build for about six years. Wal-Mart's efforts were previously turned down by Chicago's business community, unions and city officials.
The new Super Wal-Mart will be constructed on the 270-acre Pullman Park development. Some officials in support of the project say the new store will bring much-needed jobs and serve an area that is lacking grocery stores.
"Today's vote sets the stage for a strong, long-term relationship with Wal-Mart in neighborhoods all across the city," Mayor Richard Daley told the Chicago Tribune. "If it can happen in a suburban area, why not here? As simple as that."
Part of the reason the vote was approved is that Wal-Mart promised to pay all entry-level employees a minimum of $8.75 per hour and give raises of 40 percent to 60 percent per hour to employees who work with the company for one year.
Wal-Mart also plans to hire the majority of workers for the new store locally and use unionized construction workers to build the facility.
"Today is a victory for the residents of the South Side," Hank Mullany, executive vice president of the northern region for Wal-Mart, said. "But there is more to do. To that end, we have already started to identify additional opportunities across the city that will help more Chicagoans save money and live better.
"Over the next several months, we look forward to working with the city to help ensure our stores are part of the solution in terms of creating jobs, stimulating economic development and eradicating food deserts here," he added.
The only other Wal-Mart in Chicago, located on the city's West Side, was approved in 2004. A proposed store on the South Side was rejected at that time. However, the company now has a five-year plan that would result in several stores throughout Chicago, including small grocery and pharmacy stores.
That plan would ultimately cost Wal-mart about $1 billion, create 10,000 permanent jobs, and increase sales and property tax collections by tens of millions of dollars.
The City Council zoning committee recently approved plans for a second Wal-Mart on the south side of Chicago, where the company has been trying to build for about six years. Wal-Mart's efforts were previously turned down by Chicago's business community, unions and city officials.
The new Super Wal-Mart will be constructed on the 270-acre Pullman Park development. Some officials in support of the project say the new store will bring much-needed jobs and serve an area that is lacking grocery stores.
"Today's vote sets the stage for a strong, long-term relationship with Wal-Mart in neighborhoods all across the city," Mayor Richard Daley told the Chicago Tribune. "If it can happen in a suburban area, why not here? As simple as that."
Part of the reason the vote was approved is that Wal-Mart promised to pay all entry-level employees a minimum of $8.75 per hour and give raises of 40 percent to 60 percent per hour to employees who work with the company for one year.
Wal-Mart also plans to hire the majority of workers for the new store locally and use unionized construction workers to build the facility.
"Today is a victory for the residents of the South Side," Hank Mullany, executive vice president of the northern region for Wal-Mart, said. "But there is more to do. To that end, we have already started to identify additional opportunities across the city that will help more Chicagoans save money and live better.
"Over the next several months, we look forward to working with the city to help ensure our stores are part of the solution in terms of creating jobs, stimulating economic development and eradicating food deserts here," he added.
The only other Wal-Mart in Chicago, located on the city's West Side, was approved in 2004. A proposed store on the South Side was rejected at that time. However, the company now has a five-year plan that would result in several stores throughout Chicago, including small grocery and pharmacy stores.
That plan would ultimately cost Wal-mart about $1 billion, create 10,000 permanent jobs, and increase sales and property tax collections by tens of millions of dollars.
Labels: Chicago jobs
posted by Jen Carpenter # 3:09 PM 
Archives
March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 October 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 May 2012 January 2013
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
Post a Comment