The contractors behind the new Tappan Zee Bridge project are looking for more than steel workers.
Tappan Zee Constructors, a consortium composed of Fluor Enterprises Inc., American Bridge Co., Granite Construction Northeast Inc. and Traylor Bros. Inc., hosted two job fairs in Tarrytown and Suffern on April 23 and 24 attended by more than 600 people, with the goal of involving as many businesses as possible in the construction of the bridge.
Construction is expected to begin this year and state officials estimate that tens of thousands of jobs will be created as a result.
“We want to make sure as many local companies as possible get an economic benefit from this,” said Brian Conybeare, special state adviser on the new bridge.
No date has been set for an official groundbreaking, but boats on the Hudson River are doing preconstruction work.
The job fairs allowed prospective employees to meet with Tappan Zee Constructors and get an update on the project. A website, TappanZeeConstructors.com has also been established. At the website, people can upload resumes and companies can apply for potential subcontracting and supplier opportunities.
The Business Council of Westchester was one of the sponsors of the Tarrytown event and intends to work with Tappan Zee Constructors at future job fairs.
“We are going to keep stressing to our members that there are so many different industries touched by this project,” John Ravitz, executive vice president said. “This is a game changer.”
Ravitz said New York has never seen a project like this before and it should be a boost to the construction industry, which has been shedding jobs during the economic downturn.
“It”™s going to be big and exciting,” Ravitz said. “It”™s going to give local talent an opportunity to be involved.”
Unlike other projects, Tappan Zee Constructors is making sure companies are prequalified before bids are sent out to ensure they can handle the work. In most municipal projects, companies are vetted during the bid process.
“The whole idea is to share the wealth, get local companies involved and get people back to work,” Conybeare said.
Conybeare said the project will roll out slowly, with construction set to take more than five years.
Ravitz said The Business Council is stressing to its members
Tappan Zee Constructors expects to host many job fairs, and Conybeare said things will begin to get ramped up in 2014.
“The goal of these events is to get as many local companies involved in the project as possible, and help revitalize the Hudson Valley economy,” Conybeare said. “Tappan Zee Constructors will need a wide variety of goods, services and subcontractors throughout the five-year construction process. This is a chance to meet the team and learn about the upcoming opportunities as they start to become available.”
