Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Robert W. Walsh today launched a major employment initiative to help fill 800 jobs through a public-private partnership with the business tenants of the new Atlantic Terminal Development in Downtown Brooklyn.  The announcement was made at the opening of the new Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center at 9 Bond Street in Downtown Brooklyn, a one-stop shop for career counseling, job placement, educational advancement and workforce services for businesses.  This unique partnership, which includes job training and placement initiatives, will give local residents a competitive edge in securing jobs. The Atlantic Terminal businesses are dedicated to filling a majority of the 800 new jobs with local residents. State Department of Labor Executive Deputy Commissioner Dennis P. Ryan, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, City Council Members Letitia James and David Yassky, and Marcus Lewis from Target joined the Mayor and Commissioner Walsh at the announcement. 

"Ten months ago, we merged the Department of Employment with the Department of Small Business Services to create an agency that links potential employees with employers and provides the support both groups need," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Through this new facility the Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center will connect job-seekers with jobs that are being created all over the borough.  Today's initiative is one example of the new approach towards employment in New York City under the leadership of Commissioner Walsh."

The Atlantic Terminal Development will house a shopping center that will open this July, with businesses opening throughout the summer and fall. The terminal sits atop the largest transportation hub in Brooklyn, which is used by nearly 40 million people each year. The five-level, 340,000 square-foot center will house approximately 30 leading national retailers and restaurants and bring 800 jobs to Downtown Brooklyn.  Employment opportunities are diverse and include managerial and non-managerial positions as well as part-time and full-time employment.  The businesses hiring through the Center include Target, DSW, Guitar Center, Starbucks, Mrs. Fields, Payless Shoes, Verizon Wireless, McDonald's, Bath & Body Works, Men's Wearhouse, Mandees, The Children's Place, Gamestop, Coldstone, Creamery, Carter Savings Bank, Avenue, Houlihan's, Red Lobster, Daffy's, Rockaway Bedding, and Chuck E. Cheese's.

The Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center is partnering with the New York City Sales and Service Training Partnership and the National Retail Federation to help local community-based organizations (CBOs) assess, train and place jobseekers with Atlantic Terminal employers.

"By working with community-based organizations, industry leaders such as the National Retail Federation, the New York City Sales and Service Training Partnership, our partners in the One-Stop System and business we are putting New Yorkers to work where the jobs are growing," said Commissioner Walsh. "For local residents, we are insuring that they have access to these new jobs and the training they need to succeed. For the businesses, we're making it easier to start and grow in New York City by providing access to a highly qualified, pre-screened pool of local talent."

"Governor Pataki and the Department of Labor are committed to providing businesses and their workers with the necessary tools to succeed," said State Labor Commissioner Linda Angello. "A collaborative effort between the Labor Department, New York City officials and our local workforce investment partners has resulted in a state-of-the-art One-Stop Career Center opening in Brooklyn.  Statewide, businesses and job seekers alike have discovered the benefits of utilizing the One-Stop System, and we are excited that Brooklyn's residents will now be able to take advantage of the same workforce development services." 

"The opening of Brooklyn's Workforce1 career center demonstrates the right way to get things done," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Walsh have placed Brooklyn and New York at the cutting edge of a great new chapter in our history, where developments like the new Atlantic Terminal Shopping Center and Steiner Studios become a win-win - where as many jobs as possible created by new businesses go to those who live in the community. The establishment of the Workforce1 career center in Downtown Brooklyn will set the benchmark for responsible growth in Brooklyn today - and in America tomorrow."

"The opening of the Downtown Brooklyn store further demonstrates our commitment to the New York City area," said Target Regional Vice President Derek Jenkins. "Target takes pride in being a good community partner and empowering the areas we serve and follows up that commitment by giving back $2 million each week to neighborhoods, programs and schools across the country.  We are excited to work with the City, the State and the One-Stop System to find employees of the highest quality from Brooklyn and the rest of the City."

The New York City Workforce1 Career Centers are operated by the New York City Department of Small Business Services, the New York State Department of Labor and the City University of New York and provide access to employment training services provided by eleven partner agencies. SBS has contracted with some of the best workforce development providers in the country to provide services, including Goodwill Industries in Brooklyn, the Consortium for Worker Education (CWE) in Queens, Wildcat Service Corporation in the Bronx, and Seedco in Upper Manhattan. SBS is in the process of picking a vendor to provide services in Staten Island, which will open during the summer.

For information on job placement visit www.nyc.gov or call 311.