34,000 jobs, training for over 225,000 associates and grants for
innovation in textile manufacturing
WASHINGTON -- (Business Wire)
Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer with nearly 1.5 million
associates in the U.S., today will discuss company plans to create
American jobs and invest in local communities across the country. The
investments in the coming year will support an estimated 34,000 jobs
through continued expansion and improvement in the company’s store
network, as well as e-commerce services, while providing specialty
training for more than 225,000 of the company’s frontline associates.
The company and the Walmart Foundation, in conjunction with The U.S.
Conference of Mayors, are also announcing grants through the U.S.
Manufacturing Innovation Fund to advance sustainability and innovation
in textile manufacturing.
"Walmart is investing to better serve customers,” said Dan Bartlett,
Walmart executive vice president for corporate affairs. “With a presence
in thousands of communities and a vast supplier network, we know we play
an important role in supporting and creating American jobs. Our 2017
plans to grow our business – and our support for innovation in the
textile industry – will have a meaningful impact across the county.”
Walmart is planning $6.8 billion of capital investments in the U.S. in
the coming fiscal year, which includes construction and remodeling of
stores, clubs and distribution centers, as well as the expansion of new
services such as Online Grocery Pickup. Walmart’s fiscal year begins
Feb. 1; the company’s capital plans were first shared in October.
Bartlett will discuss the company’s investments in job creation and
associates -- and announce Innovation Fund grants to support the U.S.
textile sector -- at the 85th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of
Mayors in Washington, D.C. Details are highlighted below.
American Jobs
-
Approximately 10,000 retail jobs created through the opening of 59
new, expanded and relocated Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities as well
as e-commerce services.
-
An estimated 24,000 construction jobs supported through the opening of
those facilities, plus the remodeling and improvement of existing U.S.
facilities.
Workforce Investment
-
By July of this year, Walmart will open 160 new training Academies
around the country, bringing the total number of Academies to 200.
More than 225,000 associates will receive up to six weeks of specialty
training and graduate from the academies in 2017.
-
The Walmart Academies are a network of facilities where frontline
hourly supervisors and assistant store managers receive hands-on
training in retail fundamentals, leadership skills and the specifics
of how to run individual store departments. The training is designed
to help associates be successful in their careers and in meeting the
changing needs of customers.
U.S. Manufacturing Jobs
The company’s investment in American jobs includes a 2013 commitment to
purchase an additional $250 billion in American-made, grown, assembled
and sourced products through 2023, estimated to help create one million
jobs.*
Under the initiative, Walmart works with thousands of suppliers to help
them gain access to the retailer’s shelves in stores and online. In the
coming year, the program will continue to provide job-creating
opportunities. Examples include:
- California Innovations, producer of the Ozark Trail “super
cooler.” The Canadian company with U.S. operations is moving
production of the cooler from China to a factory in Atlanta, Ga.,
creating 350 jobs.
- Edgewell Personal Care, a maker of personal hygiene products,
which is bringing production from Canada to Dover, Del., creating272
jobs.
- Renfro Corporation, which will create a total of 442 jobs as a
result of a deal to produce athletic socks in Fort Payne, Ala.
Textile Industry Innovation
This year, the Walmart Foundation will provide $3 million in grants
through the U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund to six leading
universities working to advance sustainability and innovations in
textile manufacturing, which has proven to be one of the most
challenging industries to reshore to the U.S. Through the U.S.
Manufacturing Innovation Fund, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have
funded $10 million in grants since 2014.
The 2017 Innovation Fund grant recipients will be announced as part of
Bartlett’s remarks to U.S. mayors:
- Washington State University: to establish a sustainable process
to recycle cotton waste by fiber regeneration using a wet spinning
technique.
- North Carolina State University: to create a universal and
sustainable commercial textile dyeing method that doesn't use salt or
alkali; doesn’t produce effluent; and produces more than 95 percent
savings of both energy and water.
- Clemson University: for development of sustainable polyester
fibers that achieve a high level of water and oil repellency.
- Oregon State University: to develop a sustainable,
cost-effective dyeing and printing of smart fabrics process.
- Texas Tech University: to support research on various aspects
of textile manufacturing, dyeing efficiency and specialty finishes.
- University of Massachusetts Lowell: to develop magnetic dyeing
technology to address the technical and environmental issues of
current dyeing techniques.
* Based on data from Boston Consulting Group.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save
money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online,
and through their mobile devices. Each week, nearly 260 million
customers and members visit our 11,593 stores under 63 banners in 28
countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2016
revenue of $482.1 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.4 million
associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in
sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity.
Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com,
on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart
and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170117005592/en/
Contacts:
Walmart
Randy Hargrove, 1-800-331-0085
news.walmart.com/reporter
Source: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
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