by Rachel Witkowski
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Port Authority launched a new portal Wednesday but instead of on water, it was online.
The new career Web site lists more than 40 different companies and 117 jobs that were launched at the Landing, according to Bruce Ferguson, CEO of Worksource. The site is a collaboration with maritime companies and Worksource, an equal employment opportunity organization. Port Authority Board Vice President Tony Nelson, Executive Director Rick Ferrin, City Council President Kevin Hyde, Council member Pat Lockett-Felder and Ferguson gathered at the podium to launch the site together.
“We create economic development for this city, but we could not do it without the support of our community,” said Nelson.
The concept for a job Web site through the Port Authority (www.jaxport.com) has been underway for almost five years, according to Robert Peek, director of communications for the Authority. But the process took a year to completely develop and cost about $100,000, said Peek.
“It helps us link job seekers and provide value-added customers,” he said.
Prior to the site, Peek said if anyone came to the Authority and asked for a job, they would hand the person a list of companies, not knowing which one was hiring.
“It was like an Easter egg hunt,” he said. “This kind of closes the loop.”
The job site offers a variety of careers available, such as administration, engineering, logistics, skilled labor and information technology with businesses including distribution centers, railroads, shipping and trucking. The participating companies have access to applicant information. Peek said phase two will be launched later this year and it will provide links for certifications and training if the applicant does not meet all the job requirements.
“It’s a job site, but the intent is to evolve it as a resource center in the maritime industry,” he said.
Dr. Gordon McClung, director of the Davis Marketing Center in the Davis College of Business at Jacksonville University, helped the Authority develop the site. The site was created through focus groups comprised of Port Authority partners and job seekers, said McClung. Graphic design students from JU also helped develop the layout of the site.
“We wanted to make sure that both parties can identify each other in a very efficient way,” he said.
Peek said the site will also eventually be used as a marketing tool when competing to bring in businesses such as the Japanese shipping company, Matsui. Hyde said he was very excited about what the site will provide for the economy and what the Authority has provided in the past.
“I believe Matsui will be the defining point of the year for the economy,” said Hyde. “But at the end of the day, jobs are going to be what really creates this economy.”