With many emerging businesses in West New York, such as P.C. Richard and Son and Walgreen’s, looking for employees to fill their stores, a job fair seemed like the logical next step. Thus, the town’s Housing Authority coordinated a job fair at 515 54th St. from April 23 through 25.
“This is the first job fair we have held,” said Director of West New York Housing Authority Robert DiVincent, adding that at least 100 residents attended the job fair during the three days. “The response has been better than expected.”
Representatives from P.C. Richard and Son, who will be opening a store on 52nd Street in May, said that, at the job fair, they may have filled up to eight of the 50 total positions available in their new store.
“We are interested in hiring people from the community,” said Store Manager Ruben Galan, who lives in the community. “We do not want a community store where the customers are greeted by strangers.”
Other companies and programs that participated in the fair were the American Education Center, North Hudson Community Action, GMT Contracting Corporation, Bayada Nurses, Accountants on Call and Hudson County Transport.
The Housing Authority plans to hold another job fair in the future.
“It is not that the unemployment rate is extremely high compared with other Housing Authorities, but we did recognize a need. Some are looking to better themselves in terms of employment,” said DiVincent, adding that some people are looking to move from a temporary position to a full-time situation.
The Housing Authority has also taken additional resum