The FINANCIAL -- A new Walmart opens this month in Irwin, bringing nearly 300 new jobs, savings for local shoppers and an increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy,according to Walmart.

Nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Walmart, located at 915 Mills Drive, will be open to customers at 7 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25 after a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony.The new Irwin Walmart will employ approximately 300 associates, according to store manager JoAnna Kubasky.

Nineteen of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years. Kubasky is a Pennsylvania native who began her Walmart career in 2002 as an intern before becoming an assistant manager at the Mt. Pleasant Walmart.In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores, such as the Irwin Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores.

The new Walmart features wide aisles, enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. Walmart aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently. The pharmacy, for example, is adjacent to food making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their groceries.

A bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly.The Irwin Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, includes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s skylights harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting in the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.

Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The new store also operates a recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25 for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Katie Kratzenberg, a student from Norwin High School will perform the national anthem and the Irwin Boy Scout Troop will present the colors. Store associates will cut the ribbon to the new store.

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