A career fair at Essex County College was scheduled to start at 10 a.m., but people were lining up hours before then.  Hosted by the City of Newark, Newark Works, and Newark Workforce Development Board in partnership with American Dream, there was everyone from college students, to people looking to transfer into a new career, to people who are currently unemployed and looking for work.

A spokesperson for American Dream confirmed the company is working on a transportation plan for employees but would not provide any further details at this point. In the meantime, the executive director of the Newark Workforce Development Board, Amina Bey, says her organization is providing rail and bus passes for registered participants to get from Newark to the Meadowlands for interviews and until their first pay check.

Bey says the 3 million square foot mall and entertainment center, scheduled to open in October, is looking to hire 1,600 people — from security to mall management to life guards and customer service representatives. Bey says this event is to a way to give area residents a path to those jobs.

The City of Newark will continue to host smaller events through Labor Day.