Kroger set to invest $110M, hire 2,000 in Michigan

Michigan’s largest traditional grocer is getting even bigger.

Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger Co. will hire 2,000 workers for its 128 Michigan stores over the next 15 to 18 months, and will invest  about $110 million in the Great Lakes State this year, the company said. As part of that investment, Kroger will open stores in Commerce and Shelby townships.

The grocer announced the Michigan investment at its annual shareholder  meeting last week. Kroger has about 17,000 workers in the state.

“It is a strong statement that they are in Michigan to win,” said Phil Lempert, a grocery analyst and editor of supermarketguru.com.

Lempert said Kroger is succeeding in an increasingly tough grocery market in Michigan, with competition from Grand Rapids-based Meijer Inc., which is opening two new stores in the state this year; Wal-Mart, which recently opened another store in Novi; and Target, which is adding groceries to nine Metro Detroit locations. Kroger is also facing increased competition from drug stores such as CVS and Walgreens, which are adding more food to their offerings.

The Michigan investment  comes as the grocer continues to grow. In 2012, Kroger posted a 7.1 percent sales increase, according to Chairman and CEO David B. Dillon, marking 38 consecutive quarters of positive sales growth.

Lempert expects that growth to continue, and said Kroger is poised to succeed because of a strong retail strategy and ability to cater to what customers want in their local store. Its Novi store, for example, carries a large selection of Japanese food products, catering to the area’s expanding Japanese population.

Last year in Michigan, Kroger upgraded and remodeled 21 of its 128 existing locations, said Dale Hollandsworth, a company spokesman. Kroger has made a point to partner with the state's tourism ad agency, Pure Michigan, to offer Michigan-made goods. In the past five years, Kroger has invested $380 million in Michigan in capital improvements.

Kroger will open an 88,000-square-foot store at the corner of Commerce Road and Union Lake in November, and a 114,000-square-foot store at the corner of 23 Mile and Hayes Road will open in January, the grocer said. Both new stores are near existing Kroger stores.

Nationally, Kroger plans to build, expand or relocate 45 to 50 supermarkets in 2013, compared to 44 in 2012.

Employment opportunities with the Kroger Co. of Michigan are posted on www.kroger.com .

Wal-Mart hiring 80 employees for expanded Troy Michigan store

 

Wal-Mart will hire 80 full and part-time workers for its newly expanded Troy location that’s set to re-open this fall. 

The superstore, located at 2001 W. Maple, will accept applications on-sight from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Interested applicants may also apply online at http://careers.walmart.com. 

“We are excited to expand the Wal-Mart in Troy and bring good jobs with great career opportunities to the area,” store manager Nicole Chase said in a statement.

 Wal-Mart provides a benefits program to eligible full and part-time employees, according to the company. 

Most of the 80 new hires will begin work this summer as the store prepares for its re-opening.

 

Michigan State Police looking for new recruits

Metropolitan Detroit, MICH.  The Michigan State Police (MSP) is looking for another 70 new recruits to begin recruit school January of 2014; the first of two anticipated recruit schools to be held in 2014.

The Michigan State Police has partnered with Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) to host a series of recruiting seminars.  The community events will be held on Saturday, July 13th, and July 20th at the WCCCD Downtown campus, 1001 West Fort Street, Detroit, MI, 48226 in the multi-purpose room.  The events will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and will last until 12:00 noon.
The event will acquaint interested candidates with the career opportunities available with the Michigan State Police and will feature many of the department's specialty units, such as the Emergency Support Team (similar to SWAT), Underwater Recovery Unit, Canine Unit, Bomb Squad, Aviation Unit and Forensic Science Division.

The minimum requirements for consideration of employment are as follows: an applicant must be of good moral character; a United States citizen; a Michigan resident at the time of appointment to the academy; at least 21 years of age; possess a high school diploma or G.E.D.; have a good driving record; possess a stable credit history; and no felony convictions. 
Starting salary at the beginning of the 21-week recruit school is $44,000 annually with a $7,800 raise upon the completion of one year to nearly $52,000 annually.  

To attend one of the recruiting seminars, please arrive by 8:45am with picture identification.  The dress attire is business casual. 

For more information about a career with the Michigan State Police, visit www.michigan.gov/mspjobs

Tim Horton’s Café Bake Shop

 June 26, 2013
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 If you’re in the market for a new job, head to one of the following Tim Horton’s Café & Bake Shop locations during the MiVirtualCareerFair.  Using their free WiFi, you’ll find more than 50,000 jobs, along with Michigan employers and Pure Michigan Talent Connect Staff in store.

Along with feedback on resumes and tips on interviewing, the MiVirtualCareerFair also provides the opportunity for:

   * The uploading and submission of candidate resumes for various job listings 

   *Live conversations between recruiters and candidates via instant chat and/or webcam

* Interaction with fellow attendees in the Networking Lounge

  *Viewing of informational videos in the Auditorium

 * Integration with Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn: search for connections and update your status within the event

Locations

* Lansing - 3500 S. MLK Blvd., Lansing, MI 48910
* On-site employers include: Accenture; Auto-Owners Insurance; Cumulus Broadcasting; and Ingham County 

* Troy - 3331 Rochester Rd., Troy, MI 48083
* On-site employers include: PGK Services and Secure-24 

* Grand Rapids - 900 Fulton St. W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
* On-site employers include: Booking.com; Hope Network;  Express Employment Professionals; United Commercial Services

* Saginaw - 4870 State St., Saginaw, MI 48603
* On-site employers include: Covenant Healthcare; Frankenmuth  Bavarian Inn Lodge and Restaruant; and Mistequay Group, Ltd.

Free Vehicles Program for Detroiters

Program Helps Detroit Families Buy Vehicles

DETROIT - A national program will make low-cost loans to buy or repair pre-owned vehicles available to low- to moderate-income working families in the Detroit area.

Matrix Human Services and Spectrum Child & Family Services will administer $6,000 car loans and $1,500 repair loans to families in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties through the Detroit Ways to Work economic empowerment program.

Ways to Work helps families with poor credit buy reliable vehicles. The program, which will be launched March 26, also requires applicants to take a financial education course as part of the loan process. Applicants are taken through the application process, given financial counseling on budgeting, credit repair education and financial planning.

Funding is provided through the Kellogg, Kresge, Wal-Mart and other businesses and foundations.

"Owning an affordable car can make a tremendous difference in the job prospects, quality of life and future aspirations of a low-income family," said Ways to Work president Jeff Faulkner. "We tie an affordable loan product to a critical family asset, the car, and then let the combination of high expectations, accountability and meaningful clients supports do the rest. The act of repaying a loan helps our clients build sound financial habits, reinforces personal responsibility, and helps them to build a payment history and improve their credit rating."

Ways to Work operates 55 sites in 23 states and has helped nearly 30,000 families get more than $60 million in affordable loans.

Approved loans come with a flat 8 percent interest rate repayment terms of 24 and 30 months. Typical monthly payments fall between $150 and $220, and borrowers can save $750 to $3,000 in interest fees.
The majority of loan recipients are single mothers.

"Reliable transportation is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty," said Marcella Wilson, Matrix president and chief executive. "When children and families have access to reliable transportation, incomes increase and access to education and health care improves."

Applicants seeking information can call should call 313-526-4000, extension. 319 , or 313-456-6060.

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