By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
Construction on the plant has not yet begun, but a steady stream of people interested in jobs at ThyssenKrupp has been visiting Brewton's career center for information about applying with the steelmaker.
The state announced Friday that job seekers can being applying today for training for the new positions, which would give applicants a leg up when hourly-wage production jobs open.
ThyssenKrupp will be located in northeast Mobile County, about 85 miles from Brewton.
Aretha Barton of Brewton's career center office said she thinks the TK positions will benefit Escambia County residents.
Information about salaried positions is available at www.thyssenkruppnewusplant.com/careers.aspx.
Online applications for training with Alabama Industrial Development Training are available at www.jobs.aidt.edu/steel.
According to the Web site, completion of the training is required for operations and maintenance positions with TK. Applications can be submitted no later than Feb. 15 and must be submitted through the Web site.
Once applicants get through the interview process, those selected will train about 32 hours over four weeks, during the evening hours. Maintenance applicants will do an extra eight hours of maintenance training.
Training will be conducted in Mobile, said AIDT spokeswoman Phyllis Wesley.
Trainees will not be compensated, but training is free. Employment is not guaranteed.
TK will reportedly create 2,700 jobs at the plant, which will begin processing of carbon and stainless steel in 2010.
Applicants for production jobs must have a high school diploma or GED. Maintenance applicants must also have maintenance accreditation or industrial experience. All applicants must have an established job record, AIDT officials said.
Training could be conducted during the day or on weekends if needed, Wesley said.
ThyssenKrupp is one of the largest private industrial development projects in the nation.