The Mount Vernon Career Center recently hosted a high-impact hiring event on February 19, 2026, aimed at bridging the gap between local talent and the burgeoning construction industry. Organized by Nahshon Halevi of the Business and Community Engagement Team in collaboration with Supervisor Leslie Meggett, the event successfully connected residents directly with a local development project. Also assisting were Bob Fois and David Ford. Mt. Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard was on hand to address the job seekers.
A Community-Driven Partnership
The initiative was born from proactive outreach to the OPAL 115 development on Macquesten Parkway. Developers Steven Horton and Kenny Plumber, both Mount Vernon community members, collaborated with the Career Center team to ensure their housing project supports local employment. Their goal is to build a labor pool that meets workforce participation targets while providing meaningful career pathways for neighbors.
The development project is seeking skilled professionals and contractors across a wide range of trades, including sitework, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, sprinkler, masonry, concrete, and steel fabrication or welding.
Event Highlights
The recruitment event was conveniently located near the project site, and brought together three subcontractors—Forward Thinkers Development LLC, Grandview consulting Group, Inc. and The NPR Group—representing electrical, cleaning, and general contracting services. Each organization tabled and conducted on-site interviews with candidates. Approximately 150 local job seekers attended the event, engaging in information sessions and on-site interviews.
Looking Ahead
Feedback from both employers and attendees was overwhelmingly positive. The subcontractors were particularly impressed by the quality of the candidate pool and the organization of the event. Given this success, the Career Center and the OPAL 115 team are already discussing a follow-up hiring event as construction activity continues to ramp up. This collaboration highlights the Career Center’s commitment to responding swiftly to the workforce needs of our community.
Employers can learn more about collaborating with the Business and Community Engagement team at