Red Lobster Construction Under way, Project Creates Jobs
New restaurants coming to the Coachella Valley mean more jobs, and overall, it appears that the unemployment situation in America may be getting a little bit better.
The number of people filing for jobless benefits dropped 50,000 to 352,000 for the week ending last Friday, which is the lowest level since April 2008, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
The drop in claims was the largest since 2005.
Red Lobster is scheduled to open as soon as the summer in Palm Desert, which means more service jobs in the area, but construction crews are already benefiting from the project.
One crew just arrived into the Coachella Valley on Thursday night following an 11-hour car ride from Utah.
“(It) feels good to finally get out and walk,” said Brian Thompson, a carpenter with MTA Development.
Harley Construction, Inc. crews worked into the evening Thursday installing the part of the ventilation system inside the restaurant.
The shell of the more than 6,117-square-foot restaurant is already in place, and the group of six men representing MTA Development was hired to finish the exterior.
“There have been several periods of time where I haven’t had work, and so it’s been nice to have some,” said Steven Lavery, a carpenter.
The crew of carpenters said their job should take about a week, and then it’s back to Utah.
They’ve worked on several of the Red Lobsters on the West Coast, and were also recently in the city of Riverside for another construction project.
“What’s worked for us, to be honest, is we just say our prayers and we’ve been blessed,” said Thompson.
“It’s a very physical job, but it’s rewarding when you get to see the final project,” said Lavery.
Down the street, the Old Spaghetti Factory on Highway 111 at Bob Hope in Rancho Mirage plans on opening in March where Bing Crosby’s closed down, which also means jobs.
