(Camden, NJ) – Freeholder Jon Young applauds the work of Cooper’s Ferry Partnership and Hopeworks to create a one-stop shop for all jobs in Camden City and a new tool to streamline hiring for local employers. The new jobs portal, the first of its kind in the state, can be found at https://coopersferry.com/job-opportunities and will provide residents with up-to-date access to opportunities provided by the city’s anchor institutions.
This site also includes new opportunities for Camden residents from the U.S. Census Bureau as the federal agency ramps up for the 2020 census. That information can be found at https://2020census.gov/en/jobs/job-details.html.
“Instead of going from one job site to another looking for the thousands of new and existing prospects in Camden City, residents can now go to one place,” said Freeholder Jon Young, liaison to the Camden County One Stop Career Center and the Workforce Investment Board. “Cooper’s Ferry will act as a navigator to a real-time online directory that parents, youth and community members can use to find the opportunities and resources they need.”
The portal is a one-stop-shop, designed by Hopeworks, that will provide greater access to unutilized or underutilized services. The website, built and designed in conjunction with Cooper’s Ferry and the City of Camden, will create an easy and convenient way for residents to access a wide spectrum of critical services.
Dan Rhoton, the executive director of Hopeworks ‘N Camden, was ecstatic his organization and students were part of the project.
“Camden youth, building real technology solutions for Camden’s challenges- that is a sustainable and scalable business model,” Rhoton said. “Hopeworks is proud to be a part of it and proud to participate in this initiative.”
Camden has experienced significant economic growth over the last five years becoming one of the fastest growing job markets in the nation, according to federal data in 2017. This year, the city recorded its lowest unemployment rate, 6.6%, in more than 30 years according, to state labor statistics. In addition, wage growth has risen significantly higher over the last 10 years to complement job growth and the reduction in unemployment.
Kris Kolluri, CEO of Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, talked about the ability for jobseekers and members of the community to find jobs in one place.
“Whether it’s a job at EMR on Atlantic Avenue or a job in our Eds and Meds corridor, our community can find all of these options in one place,” Kolluri said. “We are looking to expand the website and employment services to ensure this is the one-stop-shop for every residents’ need moving into the future. We know companies in the city are hiring and expanding their operations, now we can deliver that critical information directly to residents in one place.”
To date, more than 1,200 Camden residents have been hired by new corporations moving into the city. In addition, more than $2.5 billion in private and public investment has been made in Camden over the past six years.
Camden City Mayor Frank Moran talked about the importance of creating new tools for a clearing house of information for those looking for a job.
“This job portal is an incredible resource for Camden residents to now have at their fingertips,” Moran said. “Camden’s unparalleled economic growth is resulting in real opportunities for our residents and business owners alike. We are talking about new jobs that previously did not exist and the progress is clear as Camden’s unemployment rate is at a 30-year low. The city and its partners will continue to make information conveniently available as we aim to connect individuals with similar services.”
About Hopeworks ‘N Camden:
Hopeworks ‘N Camden is a city-based nonprofit that uses education, technology and entrepreneurship to partner with young men and women as they identify and earn a sustainable future. The organization has taken an innovative approach to providing access and opportunity for students from the city to learn marketable skillsets that will make them successful.
About Cooper’s Ferry Partnership:
Cooper’s Ferry Partnership (CFP) is facilitating the revival of the City of Camden by creating an environment where people choose to live, work, and invest. CFP develops visionary, long-range plans for the redevelopment of Camden’s waterfronts and works with private sector, government and community partners to make these plans a reality. For more information, please visit www.coopersferry.com or follow CFP on Facebook and Twitter.