Jobs : Development News

The U.S. Census Bureau has opened two new offices, one in Catonsville and the other in Rockville. The new Catonsville office is located in the Beltway West Corporate Center on 5740 Executive Drive in Catonsville. The office will serve portions of Anne Arundel county, Baltimore county, Howard county and the cities of Beltsville, Greenbelt and Laurel in Prince George's county.  

The Rockville location will support all field operations in Montgomery County for the 2010 Census Survey, which will be conducted in March 2010. The field office is located at 2400 Research Blvd., Suite 100, Rockville. Each office will employ more than 1,000 people in various positions to support field operations in their given area.

Census data determines how more than $400 billion is allocated each year to local and state governments. The money is used for schools, roads, hospitals, senior centers and other social services in the community.

Census Day is April 1, 2010. Households will begin receiving their census questionnaire beginning March 15, 2010. The 2010 census form is one of the shortest forms in history, and asks for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home. There are 10 questions, which will take about 10 minutes to complete. Individual responses are used for statistical purposes only and all responses remain confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share this information with anyone.

The Census Bureau is now recruiting for census taker positions, who will visit households that did not return a questionnaire. Interested applicants should call 1-866-861-2010 or go to www.2010census.gov.

 Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Bmore (www.bmoremedia.com) is a new weekly e-zine covering all that's new and cool in Baltimore. We are looking for a regular freelance contributor to cover weekly news about real estate development and new businesses in the city. We're looking for someone who loves the city, knows what's up and coming in the neighborhoods, and is passionate about telling good stories. This is a paid, part-time, freelance position. The writer would also have the opportunity to contribute feature stories, too.

If you're interested, please send your resume, a few clips, and a cover letter. We're looking to fill the position immediately.

There could be a new Lowe's store on the way for Baltimore. The hardware retailer detailed its expansion plans that it says will take it into high-density metropolitan markets iboth around the country and internationally. The box-store retailer will also renew its focus on lower to middle price points and make improvements to its internet site in the coming months.

The plans is open 62 to 66 new stores by the end of 2009. Another 35 to 45 new stores,10 of them in international markets, will open in 2010.

"We will focus in 2010 on high-volume, metro-market opportunities � high-density markets where we have minimal coverage, like Washington D.C., New York, Boston, San Francisco, San Jose, Denver and Baltimore," explains Gregory Bridgeford, executive vice president of Business Development. "We have far fewer stores in these markets than our major competitor."

No annoucements will be made about the exact location of the proposed stores until the company has completed its real estate survey.

Wherever the company settles on for its latest stores it will mean new jobs. According to Karen Coob, a Lowe's spokesperson, if the location is 116,000 square feet, then Lowe's will need to fill about 175 postions, the majority of which will be full-time. Slightly smaller stores measuring 94,000 square feet will provide employment for about 120 mostly full-time workers.

Source: Karen Cobb, Lowe's
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Toys R Us is hoping the recession will not be a Grinch and keep Santa from delivering his gifts this Christmas. Just in case, however, the toy store chain, plans to open some 350 so-called "express" stores across the country. The pop-up locations will include 80 standalone express shops in shopping centers and malls. The remaining stores will take up residence inside existing Babies R Us stores.

According to a Toys R Us spokesperon, two "express" stores -- one in White Marsh Mall and a second at the Mall in Columbia -- will open their doors temporarily by the end of October. The company may open other locations in and around Baltimore as well.

The toy retailer expects to hire about 1,000 workers to staff for the 4,000 square foot Holiday Express stores. Babies R Us express stores will occupy about 2,500 square feet, roughly three times the space normally set aside for toys in those stores.

The temporary locations will shut down by mid-January.

Source: Toys R Us
Writer: Walaika Haskins