If you want one of the 2,500 jobs Providence Place is expected to
generate, it’s not too early to start applying.
In fact, while they aren’t making any promises, Nordstrom – the
Seattle-based retailer that will serve as one of the mall’s anchors – is
taking names, Social Security numbers and other information at 1-800-
966-2137, ext. 993-RHIN.
A Nordstrom representative said the information is being categorized
and that candidates will be contacted in the spring regarding
interviews.
The capital city’s mega-mall is expected to open at the end of next
summer, creating some 2,500 full and part-time jobs.
That projected August 20, opening, according to Michael Doyle, a
spokesman for the project’s developers, remains “on schedule.”
Doyle said a formal job training program will be instituted, offering
specific training for retail employment.
“We will be announcing in mid-winter, a training program for high
school students and also programs for adults,” Doyle said. “We expect
these retail training programs to enhance the candidates’ credentials.
The individual stores will do their own hiring, but a data bank will be
forwarded to all of the prospective employees of the mall.”
Joseph Newsome, executive director of the South Providence
Development Corporation, will be helping to coordinate the job training
program. Newsome expects the training to take place at several
locations, including the Community College of Rhode Island’s Providence
campus, Johnson & Wales University and the Genesis Center.
“We’re looking to help prepare the initial workforce,” Newsome said.
Details of the job training programs will become more specific,
Newsome said, when the funding needed to run the programs is in place.
“We made a pitch to the state’s Human Resource Investment Council,
which we thought would be a good fit,” Newsome said. “But unfortunately,
they wouldn’t have the money until next July.”
Newsome is confident that something will be worked out.
“Our preference is to find a single source of funding,” said Newsome.
“Ideally, I think state funds should be allocated for this. It’s in the
state’s best interest.”
Filene’s, another Providence Place anchor, along with Lord & Taylor,
expects to employ about 200 at its Providence Place store.
Robin Reibel, spokesperson for Filene’s, said the company’s hiring
process typically begins two to three months prior to the opening of a
store.
“Certainly, we will have to add people, but we will take some senior
executives from existing stores,” she said.
