Wal-Mart and Youngstown reach deal on water, hiring

YOUNGSTOWN —The city signed a deal today to provide water to a proposed Wal-Mart in Liberty in exchange for the retail store superpower’s agreeing to steps that will make it easier for Youngstown residents to be hired at the facility.

Wal-Mart officials were hesitant to sign a contract with Youngstown for water services because it required the company to make a best effort to hire city residents for at least 25 percent of its positions at the proposed Liberty location.

The deal signed has Wal-Mart agreeing to recruit Youngstown residents through a hiring center it will open within the city limits about five to six weeks before the Liberty store opens sometime next year. However, the agreement does not require Wal-Mart to hire any Youngstown residents.

The company also agreed to help with job-training for city residents for the store and to work together to what Mayor Jay Williams called “future investment opportunities” in the city.

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