Home Depot adds 60 local workers
The Home Depot is preparing for spring, the company’s busiest selling season, by hiring 60 associates in Chattanooga. The Home Depot is adding 60 workers at its stores in Hixson and East Brainerd as part of a nationwide addition of 80,000 employees for the traditionally busy springtime season.
From sales and cashiers to operations and online order fulfillment, opportunities include both permanent part-time and seasonal positions in the company’s stores and distribution facilities. College students, retirees and veterans are encouraged to apply.
The retailer said applying for a job at the world’s largest home improvement retailer now takes about 15 minutes using any device, thanks to a shorter application and mobile optimized Careers site at careers.homedepot.com.
Chamber names finalist for small business awards
Small business of the year finalists have been named by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
Finalists for employers with 20 or fewer workers include: 6 STRONG MEDIA, Flywheel Brands Inc. and Skye Strategies.
Companies with 21 to 50 employees include: Cres- well Richardson, Flying Squirrel and JHM Certified Public Accountants.
Finalists with between 51 and 200 employees: Kelly Auto Group, MediTract and Tranco Logistics.
In the nonprofit category, finalists are CADAS, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga and Siskin Children’s Institute.
Award winners will be named in each category at the Small Business Awards luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 29 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Dunkin’ Donuts to quit artificial colors next year
The parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins says it will remove artificial colors from its products in the U.S. by the end of 2018.
Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. says the exception will be on brand-name ingredients it sources to use as toppings, ice cream mixes and decorations for its sweets. It also noted that Baskin-Robbins will take longer to find replacements for ice cream cake decorations.
Other chains including Subway, Panera and Taco Bell have said they’re removing artificial colors and other ingredients in response to customer demand, but the changes can be challenging. Taco Bell, for instance, said it would remove artificial preservatives by the end of 2017, but earlier this year said it’s taking longer to determine what maintains product freshness without sacrificing taste.
Mortgage rates decline to 4.1 percent for 30 years
Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week, breaking a holding pattern that prevailed for more than a month.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate loans declined to 4.10 percent from 4.16 percent last week. The benchmark rate stood at 3.64 percent a year ago and averaged 3.65 percent through 2016, the lowest level in records dating to 1971.
The rate on 15-year mortgages slipped to 3.32 percent from 3.37 percent last week.