(Washington, DC)  The Department of Employment Services (DOES) and Giant Food, LLC announced that more than 200 District residents – 98 percent are Ward 8 residents – were hired to staff the new 63,000 square foot, full-service Super Giant store, located at 1535 Alabama Avenue, in southeast Washington.  This is the first supermarket to open east of the Anacostia River since 1997 and is a part of the Camp Simms revitalization project.

“I am extremely pleased with what our partnership with Giant Food has gained for our local residents,” says Summer Spencer, Director of DOES.  “Not only did this collaboration provide jobs for District residents, but Ward 8 residents and businesses can now enjoy the convenience of shopping at a state-of-the-art facility located right in their neighborhood.”

Working in conjunction with Giant Food, the DOES’ Office of Business Services provided a myriad of workforce development services, including pre-screening applicants and facilitating job readiness workshops.  Additionally, the department hosted 10 job opportunity fairs to assist the company with personnel recruitments.  More than 1,200 job seekers applied for positions, resulting in 200 successful hires.

The DC Department of Employment Services fosters economic growth in the District of Columbia by providing workforce development services to both employers and job seekers.  For more information on employment opportunity fairs, contact the DOES’ Business Services Group at (202) 698-5142.