SBS Creates "Organic" Relationship with Whole Foods Market

April 1, 2007 - Robert Libertella, a Staten Island native, is among the 350 New Yorkers who have received jobs at Whole Foods Market’s new store, which opened at the corner of Houston and Bowery on March 29. Mr. Libertella, who will be a chef at the new store, said he has "never seen anything like this" in terms of the City placing such a large number of New Yorkers in jobs.  

During January and February, the Department of Small Business Services, working with local and state partners, screened several thousand jobseekers for Whole Foods Market, referring 1,100 qualified jobseekers to the company. Mr. Libertella says his experience with Workforce1 was "fantastic." By providing this complementary service to the company, SBS ensured that the jobs created by the store opening were filled by New Yorkers.

"This is an example of how we are better using our federal workforce funds to place more New Yorkers in jobs at a lower cost to the agency," said Commissioner Walsh. "Equally important, we are responding to the needs of businesses, making it easier for them to work and expand in New York and ensuring that the jobs they create are filled by New York City residents."

Since the Department of Small Business Services merged with the Department of Employment in 2003, the agency has increased the number of New Yorkers placed in jobs through the Workforce 1 Career Centers from 127 per quarter to more than 4,300 per quarter. In the case of Whole Foods Market – the largest-scale recruitment effort that the City has ever undertaken -- SBS pooled jobseekers from all five boroughs through the Workforce1 Career Centers to interview for the jobs, developing a close relationship with the company to understand its culture and hiring needs and working with partners including the New York State Department of Labor, CAMBA and F.E.G.S. Health and Human Services System. SBS was introduced to Whole Foods through the Retail Desk of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

"As a result of the pre-screening and recruitment efforts provided by the Department of Small Business Services, the candidates interviewed by Whole Foods Market were better qualified, resulting in a lower recruit to hire ratio, saving us a great deal of time and money," said Fred Shank, a company spokesperson. "The agency has made it a pleasure to work and expand in New York City and we hope to continue this relationship as we open three new stores within New York City in the next two years."

Whole Foods Market has also expressed its commitment to purchasing locally-made foods. A study released by the Mayor’s Office of Industrial & Manufacturing Businesses in February found food manufacturing to be one of the City’s most important and vibrant industrial sectors. Click here for more information.

In addition to Whole Foods Market, the Department of Small Business Services has also undertaken large-scale recruitment efforts for companies such as Chase, Citibank, Fairway, Macy’s and Time Warner Cable. Click here to learn more about NYC Business Solutions Hiring & Training.