Cicero officials join Walmart in cutting ribbon on job hiring center

Photos: Ribbon Cutting, From LeftL Cicero Assessor Emilio Cundari, Walmart Store Manager Lisa Perez and Town President Larry Dominick.

Town President Larry Dominick and the new Store Manager for the Walmart Supercenter in Cicero, Lisa Perez, cut the ribbon on Feb. 20 opening a "hiring center" where the national retailer will hire up to 400 full and part-time people.

The new store, to be located at 33rd and Cicero Avenue, will officially open at the end of May. Individuals seeking employment with full benefits can apply for the Walmart positions by going online at www.Walmart.com/apply to begin the job hiring process.

Dominick, who was joined by the Town's Board and Officials, said Walmart will use two conference rooms at the Cicero Community Center, 2250 S. 49th Avenue, to process applicants to fill the job centers.

"We're very pleased that Walmart has made it a priority to do this in Cicero thereby giving Cicero residents an opportunity to apply for these positions," Dominick said.

Town Assessor Emilio Cundari, who emcee'd the program Thursday, said, "This is a great day for Cicero and for Cicero. It is very rare in today's economy that we will be having an announcement like this where we are able to announce a major corporation and retailer coming to the Town of Cicero and creating so many new jobs."

Attending the ribbon-cutting were Cicero Town officials Supervisor Joe Virruso, Collector Fran Reitz, Clerk Maria Punzo-Arias, and Trustees Dennis Raleigh, Victor Garcia and Larry Banks.

Cundari also acknowledged the support and hard work of local legislators including State Senators Martin Sandoval and Steve Landek, and State Representatives Lisa Hernandez, Mike Zalewski and Silvana Tabares. Cundari also thanked the Law firm of Del Galdo and Associates for supervising the accord with Walmart.

"We started working on this in 2005 negotiating with Walmart. You can see it has been a long process, but it is well worth it for our citizens. The tax dollars for the Town will be phenomenal and benefit our taxpayers," Dominick said.

"I am really anxious for the rest of the property to develop. We've had a lot of interest from other businesses but they have been waiting to see Walmart open. We're excited to have Walmart come to Cicero. They have a great organization and we are extremely honored to be working with Walmart to help identify qualified candidates from the Town of Cicero to apply for the 400 jobs that will be created and to work there."

Perez thanked the Town officials for their support and for allowing Walmart to use the Community Center for their hiring process.

"I want to thank the Town of Cicero and President Dominick for working with us and providing us this location at the Community Center where we will conduct interviews to find our new associates," Perez said.

"We will be using the Cicero Community Center to conduct the interviews for the hiring of the new 400 associates who will be working her at the new superstore in the Town of Cicero. We will be hiring approximately 400 associates to work her in Cicero in both full and part-time for a variety of positions."

Perez said Walmart provides a benefits include 401 K Matching Programs of up to 6 percent, discounts on general merchandise, and associate stock purchase program and company paid health insurance. She added that Walmart gives a priority to veterans who have just returned from active duty in the past year.

Town Project Manager Craig Pesek cited Walmart as one of a long line of new businesses that have relocated or expanded into the Town of Cicero. "The benefits include shopping options for consumers and tax benefits to our taxpayers, as well as creating 400 new jobs,' Pesek said.

Perez said that individuals who would like to apply for one of the 400 jobs should go online at www.Walmart.com/apply to complete the application process. Eligible and qualified candidates will be asked by Walmart to come to the Cicero Community Center for interviews and they will also begin their training there, too.

Cicero has provided two conference and classrooms for Walmart to conduct the interviews and to provide initial job training. A third Computer Center will also be available to Walmart to provide hands-on assistance to applicants who can apply at the center. Dates for the on-site application process will be provided at a future date since the Computer Lab Center is currently being used for Early Voting through the March 18 elections.

The new Walmart store will open at the end of May.

Crédito: EXTRA Newspaper