Seminars sponsored by the EDA and the Welch Area Chamber of Commerce at the McDowell Library Tuesday and Wednesday provided an abundance of information on the federal prison’s social and economic impact on the area.
Located on Indian Ridge near the McDowell/ Wyoming County border, the $224 million federal prison is slated for completion by early 2010 and will create a multiplicity of jobs. Visit bop.gov/jobs for descriptions and qualifications for the jobs.
Bureau of Prisons Activation Coordinator Cathi Litcher was on hand Wednesday to answer questions and to encourage the local community to take advantage of the many financial and job opportunities that the facility offers.
Jobs at the prison include clerical workers, teachers, accountants, secretaries, various types of supervisors, nurses, medical personnel and workers in many other specialties. Available positions will be posted at www.usajobs.gov beginning in spring, 2009, with some of the hiring also to commence at that time.
For additional information on employment opportunities at the federal prison, visit the Workforce West Virginia Center (phone 436-6464), 10 Park Street, located behind Subway in Welch.

Pictured are some of those who attended Tuesday’s seminar: Delores Johnson, Gary City Hall; Amber Mitchell, EDA; Stephanie East, EDA; Clara Thompson, McDowell Museum Commission, Brad Garrett, Wal-Mart; Deana Keener, Region 1 Workforce WV Entrepreneurship Alliance; Jean Hall, EDA; E. Ray Williams, EDA Board and Jeff James, Chairperson, Create WV (Photo by Cathy Patton)