Although America’s unemployment rate is reportedly reaching its lowest point in years, the Black community still suffers from a scarcity of job opportunities.
In response to this ongoing crisis, Walmart has played a pivotal role in employing African Americans throughout the country.
This trend will continue in 2016, when the retail giant is scheduled to build a supercenter in Compton, Los Angeles.
At a town hall meeting packed with his constituents, Compton City Councilman Isaac Galvan joined Walmart representatives recently to announce plans to build a new Walmart supercenter, delivering critically needed jobs for residents, providing shoppers with more retail options, and helping the city to keep tax dollars at home.
“I’m proud to welcome Walmart to District 2,” said Councilmember Galvan. “Jobs and services are important to the quality of life a community can offer its residents. Compton residents are excited about the creation of 300 new jobs, as well as the opportunity to purchase groceries, merchandise, and pharmacy services in their own community. We look forward to building a strong relationship with our newest corporate citizen!”
Groceries, including fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meat and dairy products, deli and bakery goods, will be sold at the approximately 133,000- square foot store, the company announced.
The store will also offer general merchandise, including home furnishings, household items, apparel, electronics, sporting goods and toys. The store will also include a full-service pharmacy and access to Walmart’s $4 generic prescription program.
A hiring center to fill the mix of 300 full- and part-time jobs is expected to open in late 2015. The Compton Walmart will employ department managers, customer service personnel, maintenance, sales associates, stocking positions, cashiers and more.
Walmart pledges to meet with local suppliers to determine how it can purchase more products from them, said Javier Angulo, Walmart director of public affairs.
Walmart spent more than $55 million for merchandise and services from Compton suppliers in the 2013 fiscal year, Angulo said.
“A new store in Compton represents a growth opportunity for local suppliers,” he added. “It means that we will be looking to source even more products from suppliers in the region and do more business locally.”
Walmart also announced that it will partner with the city of Compton to meet with other local suppliers, learn about their businesses and the obstacles that they might face, determine how Walmart can purchase products from them and how the retailer can help suppliers to further succeed.
In the next few months, Walmart will begin partnering with local organizations to help identify job candidates.
Walmart will also open a local hiring center, where job candidates will be able to come ask questions, complete applications online and schedule job interviews.
