GROVELAND, Fla. – Following Kroger’s announcement that it plans to pull out of Groveland and take some 1,400 jobs with it, the city says a CareerSource job fair is going to be held at the shuttering fulfillment center itself.
The event is scheduled for 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Kroger Fulfillment Center at 7925 American Way, the city said on social media.
“CareerSource Central Florida is hosting a dedicated Job Fair to help connect Kroger employees with new career opportunities, training programs, and scholarship options,” the city’s post states. “(...) We stand with our Kroger families and will continue sharing updates and opportunities as they become available.”
The Kroger Fulfillment Center in Groveland opened in 2019 following a $55 million investment and has become one of Lake County’s biggest employers. Though news of its closure was packaged with that of two other fulfillment centers elsewhere the U.S., an exact date was not given, only a promise that delivery service would end Feb. 1, 2026.
[WATCH: Kroger ending delivery in Florida, closing Lake County fulfillment center]
Groveland Mayor Keith Keogh has since said Kroger’s announcement made him heartsick for the hundreds of people who will be left without a job after the facility closes.
“Each and every one of us knows someone who works in that facility, so for us, it’s personal. Please know we’re actively working with local, county and regional organizations to ensure these folks have every available resource,” Keogh wrote, adding legal paths are being explored so that the community may “fight for every dollar we invested in this project.”
[WATCH: Lake County wants Kroger incentive dollars back]
More than 15 employers are set to attend the job fair at the time of this writing, according to the city.
Employers interested in participating are encouraged to sign up at Go.CareerSourceCentralFlorida.com/KrogerJobFair.
[VIDEO: Residents, businesses ‘hard hit’ by impending Kroger closure]