The opening date of a new job center on McKenna Boulevard has been delayed by three months because not enough contractors put bids in to renovate the site.
The Park Edge Park Ridge Neighborhood Employment Center was originally scheduled to open in February 2018, but now it has been pushed to May 2018.
The city of Madison set a deadline in early September for contractors to put bids in to revamp the old Griff’s restaurant, but only one bid came in.
City officials said more contractors expressed interest, but they didn’t meet the deadline.
Now, bidding has reopened for a second time to invite competitive offers.
Dr. Ruben Anthony, CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison, which will be running the new job center, said waiting on the right bid is worth it.
“When we have competitive bidders, it’s gonna be better for the city — it’ll be from a cost-efficient stand-point,” Anthony said.
The Urban League is operating a temporary job center on South Gammon Road at the Gammon Place Strip Mall.
The center offers training programs for jobs in construction, IT and healthcare. Jobseekers also have access to computers and printers.
The deadline to submit a bid is Oct. 6.
