Published: November 18, 2008 05:31 pm            

Jobs to fill! New prison will need more than 300 people

It’s the type of headline we love to write: “Hundreds of jobs to fill.” And this report was proclaimed on the front page of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in a banner announcement stretched across A-1 on Monday.

It was a great way to start the week.

The story referred to the several hundred new jobs that will be available at McDowell County’s new $224 million federal prison at the Indian Ridge Industrial Park in Welch.

While the image of correctional officers may immediately come to mind when one thinks of prison jobs, in reality there are many employment opportunities available.

Cathi Litcher, an activation coordinator for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, told the Daily Telegraph many talents and skills will be needed at the new federal prison. Jobs to be filled include cooks, supervisors, medical doctors, dentists, nurses, recreational specialists, teachers, accountants, secretaries, facility management positions, warehouse supervisors, correctional officers and even automotive repair supervisors.

It’s estimated 320 to 340 positions will be filled at the prison. In a region that has struggled with economic hardships, the knowledge of more than 300 new jobs opening up is heartening news.

Construction of the prison is now about 72 percent complete, and contractors anticipate completing the project next year. The first job vacancy announcements will be posted on www.usajobs.gov by April.

However, those interested in obtaining a job at the prison have an early chance to find out more about the employment opportunities during a McDowell Chamber of Commerce meeting today at noon at the Herzbrun Room of the Welch Library. The free seminar will discuss job and business opportunities at the federal correction institution.

“The reason I’m coming to town is to share that information, as well as give the local community direction on what they can do now to be prepared once we open the (job) vacancies,” Litcher said.

Litcher said the goal is creating workforce development for the community. “We’ve focused on some of the basic things we are doing. For example, we don’t take paper applications. You have to apply online.” While these type of details may seem small, they are extremely important to those who are actively seeking employment at the prison so they can have a good job, close to home.

Litcher said all interested citizens are urged to attend today’s meeting at the Welch library. “The more people who can come and can get a fact sheet or recruitment update, the more information will come out, and the more accurate information will be out there. We are going to challenge everybody to go out there and share this information with at least one more person.”

We, too, encourage all those in the area who are interested in employment at the federal prison to make time today to attend the seminar.

Jobs in this region are not always easy to come by. Now that opportunity is knocking, it is up to us to show we have the drive, ambition and initiative to meet the opportunity head on.

        

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