On Thursday, August 14, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was the very first customer at the new Macy’s near Co-op City, which officially opened as part of the new Mall at Bay Plaza—a facility which has 780,000 square feet of retail space and is the first enclosed fashion mall in the New York City area in almost 40 years. To fill 1,800 new job spots, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Unemployment Strikeforce partnered with Borough President Diaz and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation to help match candidates with the positions.

1,800 new jobs generated at indoor 100+ store mall

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the grand opening of the new Mall at Bay Plaza in the Bronx—a facility which has 780,000 square feet of retail space and is the first enclosed fashion mall in the New York City area in almost 40 years. To fill 1,800 new job spots, the Governor’s Unemployment Strikeforce partnered with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation to help match candidates with the positions.

“This new project is a big win for the Bronx, which for many years has had the highest unemployment rate in the state, and for the Unemployment Strikeforce, which helped connect unemployed New Yorkers from the community with many of the 1,800 jobs created by this development,” Governor Cuomo said. “I thank the businesses that are choosing to invest in the Bronx and I welcome shoppers from every corner of New York and beyond to visit this new space.”

Lieutenant Governor Robert J. Duffy said, “This mall is an example of the economic growth that we are seeing across the state under Governor Cuomo’s leadership. The Mall at Bay Plaza will ensure that the region sees many economic benefits, with new jobs and new businesses growing right here in the Bronx. I thank our public and private partners for their commitment in developing this borough and look forward to the Bay Plaza serving as an economic engine in the Bronx for years to come.”

Announced in May, the Governor’s Unemployment Strikeforce is a new multi-pronged campaign to boost employment in areas with the highest unemployment rates. Through a partnership of the State Department of Labor, Empire State Development and other public and private partners, the campaign will strategically augment services in Bronx, Jefferson, Lewis and Kings Counties.

Sam Shalem, CEO and Chairman of Prestige Properties & Development Co. Inc., said, “I’d like to thank Governor Cuomo, Borough President Diaz Jr. and Marlene Cintron of the BOEDC for their support to ensure that we have the most qualified New Yorkers employed at mall. We are thrilled to officially open to the public and we are especially proud to create quality jobs for New Yorkers.”

State Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera said, “Our partnership to help hire 1,800 workers at this new mall is part of the strategic efforts of Governor Cuomo’s Unemployment Strikeforce. Every day we are helping connect workers to businesses and further close the unemployment gap with skills training.”

In early July, the New York State Thruway Authority completed work to widen an exit ramp from Interstate 95 to Bartow Avenue for the mall project. A new lane has added significant capacity, accommodating more vehicles and reducing backup on I-95. The total construction cost was $3.4 million, funded by state and federal funds.

Congressman Eliot Engel said, “The economy in New York has made some impressive strides over the past few years, and nowhere is that more evident than right here in the Bronx. I applaud the partnership between Governor Cuomo, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and the State Labor Commissioner that has helped create and fill 1,800 jobs in my district at the new Mall at Bay Plaza. Although there is more that needs to be done to help the economy, projects like this one are a step in the right direction, and I am happy that so many people in the area will now be gainfully employed as a result of this development.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said, “I am glad that the Bronx is officially cutting the ribbon on the first indoor mall in our borough’s history, and most importantly I am happy that Bronxites will fill so many of the jobs created by this project. Thanks to our partnership with Governor Cuomo, the State Department of Labor, and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation we are putting our people back to work. We are working to bring new jobs and new economic development to The Bronx, as we rebuild and rebrand the ‘New Bronx.”

State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson said, “I applaud the Governor’s work to create and fill new jobs here in Co-Op City and also for his work to widen the exit ramp at Interstate 95 which was designed to ease congestion onto Bartow Avenue. My office is meeting with the City’s Department of Transportation to determine whether we need additional traffic adjustments, but overall the mall expansion will bring a new state of the art facility and hundreds of new jobs to this beautiful section of Bronx County.”

Assemblyman Michael R. Benedetto said, “This opening represents a new confidence in the Bronx and confirms in the minds of many of us who knew it already, that the Bronx is back.”

Council Member Andy King said, “The Eagle has landed in the 12th District! With 1,800 new living-wage jobs, more District 12 and Bronx residents are able to provide for their families and students are provided with job experiences. The opening of the Mall at Bay Plaza is a blessing for us all.”

No-Cost Business Services
Career fairs and customized recruitment services can be tailored to a specific business to assist in their hiring needs. The Department of Labor Business Services Team will help a business review applicants, set up and schedule events, and match candidates based on skills and applicable hiring and training incentives.

For a complete listing of all recruitment events, job seekers should visit: www.labor.ny.gov/events.

For more information about job fairs and recruitment events, businesses should call (800) HIRE-992 or e-mail: DEWS.Business.Services@labor.ny.gov.

In addition, there are more than 100,000 available jobs are now listed on Governor Cuomo’s Jobs Express website (www.jobs.ny.gov). The site sorts thousands of jobs by region and occupation, and also allows users to search jobs based on zip code and travel distance.

To see available positions, job seekers in the Bronx should visit: www.labor.ny.gov/bronxworks.

For more information about posting jobs on Jobs Express, business should visit: www.labor.ny.gov/hire.