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Read the press release here.

Far Rockaway Job Fair Brings Sandy Rebuilding Work to Area

By Katie Honan | October 8, 2014 5:17pm
 Construction on a home in Breezy Point, Queens, as part of the city's Build It Back program. The city is hosting a job fair to help connect locals to employers working on resiliency and rebuilding projects.
Construction on a home in Breezy Point, Queens, as part of the city's Build It Back program. The city is hosting a job fair to help connect locals to employers working on resiliency and rebuilding projects.
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New York City Build It Back

FAR ROCKAWAY — A job fair will look to connect residents with Hurricane Sandy-related rebuilding and resiliency work.

The Oct. 15 fair in Far Rockaway is organized by the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Recovery Operations, Workforce1 and other city agencies to help get residents hired on rebuilding projects.

Jobs won’t be limited to just rebuilding — there will be chances to learn more about resiliency and infrastructure opportunities, as well as learn about trainings and apprenticeships according to an official.

Available positions include construction engineers and construction project managers, architects and architectural designers, data entry specialists, housing repair inspectors and office administrators, according to the city.

It was not clear how many jobs were available or where the work was going to be.

If a candidate meets the criteria at the fair, they’ll be referred to an employer or placed in a pipeline for future jobs, according to the city.

Local hiring has been integral to Mayor Bill de Blasio's recovery plan, according to Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for the mayor.

The fair "will be a great chance for residents from the Rockaways and other impacted communities to explore these opportunities as we build back stronger and more resiliently."

It was proposed at a meeting at a Jamaica church in July, where faith leaders, local politicians and victims of Hurricane Sandy expressed their lingering concerns over recovery with Mayor de Blasio’s administration.

Amy Peterson, director of the Housing Recovery Office that oversees the Build It Back program, said the city would use some of the billions in federal dollars given to the city for Hurricane Sandy to also “rebuild people’s lives through workforce development.”

The job fair will be held Wednesday, Oct. 15 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Challenge Preparatory Charter School, 710 Hartman Lane, Far Rockaway. For more information, visit the job fair's website