Walmart Announces Goal to Work With the City to Increase Store Growth Over Five Years

CHICAGO, June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Walmart today announced a goal to work with the city to build several dozen stores that create approximately 12,000 jobs in Chicago over the next five years as part of a long-term initiative called the "Chicago Community Investment Partnership."  The new plan, which also will help eradicate food deserts and stimulate local economic development, includes five key components:

• Open several dozen stores across the City of varying size and format.  This will not only address Chicago's double-digit commercial vacancy rate but, more importantly, provide customers with more convenient access to affordable groceries, especially those 600,000 residents living within Chicago's three, self-identified food deserts;
• Create approximately 10,000 associate positions and 2,000 unionized construction jobs, helping to offset the City's 11.4-percent unemployment rate;
• Generate more than $500 million in sales and property taxes, providing a much-needed revenue boost to a wide range of City and county services;
• Pay competitive wages at all levels, for Walmart associates across Chicagoland;
• Develop charitable partnerships in Chicago worth $20 million that work to eradicate hunger, curb youth violence and help all Chicago residents live better.

Walmart will continue to pay competitive wages that attract the best possible associates.  According to recent market wage assessments in Chicago, Walmart's starting wage is fully competitive with most union and non-union retailers in several key categories such as cashier and stock associate.

"We want to deliver long-term solutions that benefit Chicago and its residents," said Hank Mullany, executive vice president and president Walmart North, Walmart U.S.  "While our goals are dependent on our ability to site and build stores in a timely fashion, we remain confident that we can make a real difference to Chicagoans in need of a job and those who seek more convenient access to fresh, affordable food, especially those living in the City's underserved communities."

"Our city is facing a number of challenges but most of all, we need good jobs," said Alderman Anthony A. Beale of the 9th Ward, who is hoping to bring a new Walmart store to his community and recently secured a Community Benefits Agreement for his residents.  "There is a growing divide between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' and this initiative has the potential to begin to level the playing field for all Chicagoans."

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation plan to commit $20 million over the next five years.  This will include an annual donation of 1.2 million meals to Chicago residents and 200,000 meals for children this summer.

"Over the past several years, we've challenged ourselves to look for ways to make a long-lasting impact in neighborhoods across Chicago by funding programs that address critical needs, like hunger, education and job training," added Mullany. "We look forward to sustaining those partnerships in the years to come and forging new relationships along the way."

About Walmart

Walmart (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,400 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune magazine's 2010 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.

SOURCE Walmart

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