Hundreds of people are at the future Encore construction site near downtown Tampa this morning, hoping to find work at a job fair set up by the developer of the ambitious mixed-use project to find skilled and unskilled laborers, project managers, foremen and site supervisors.
A line of potential workers snaked throughout the site at Cass Street and Nebraska Avenue. Job interviews in three tents on the property began before the scheduled 10 a.m. starting time and were slated to continue until 3 p.m. today.
Representatives of ZMG Construction of Longwood, a partner in the project, anticipated up to 5,000 people will come to the site this morning, looking for work. Job candidates were asked to bring resumes, licenses, certificates and qualifications statements.
Yasema Jackson, 38, of West Tampa, is among those waiting in line. A former telemarketer, she has done housekeeping, worked at a McDonald's restaurant and done traveling sales since since her employer cut back staffing two years ago.
"I'll learn anything," Jackson said this morning. "Give me a shovel. Just give me a job."
Chris Kenney, 26, of Seffner, also is standing in line, waiting for an interview.
Kenney has done small remodeling jobs since losing his job installing screen enclosures about a year ago. His father heard about today's job fair on the radio and told him about it.
"I'm hoping to get any position," Kenney said.
Encore is a major redevelopment effort that could create housing for more than 1,700 people and feature a hotel, offices, a grocery store and other facilities. A public housing complex formerly stood on the site.
The project is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs. Information about the job fair is available at www.zmgencore .com.
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