Provalus is looking for potential employees to help fill the needs of its clientele.

Senior Vice President Scott Sullivan joined Brewton Mayor Yank Lovelace at the Escambia County commission meeting to give an update on the new industry.

“Scott and I were talking and he had not met many of the commissioners,” Lovelace said. “Provalus is growing rapidly. Scott moved here two months ago and is a senior vice president for Provalus. He is hiring folks in each of your districts.”

Sullivan said the first class was completed a year ago.

“We had six individuals complete our program a year ago,” he said. “Today, we have 50 full-time employees from the local area.”

Sullivan said there are some employees who drive 45 minutes to an hour to get to Provalus.

Sullivan said they are now tasked with trying to create creative ways to attract the talent needed.

“We hope to offer some incentive packages,” he said.

Sullivan said that they are bringing offshore jobs back onshore.

“We just signed a contract with a Fortune 10 company,” he said. “That has added 11 individuals with the potential to grow by the end of the year.”

Sullivan said Provalus concentrates on IT servicing and takes some inbound calls with 60 percent nbeing software design and 40 percent being help desk.

Those who come to work for Provalus will complete one of three boot camps.

“Our program is similar programs like ITT,” he said.

Sullivan said that they also hope to find a partner to bring some affordable housing to Brewton.

He said that Provalus currently has partnerships with the city and the state of Alabama, but hopes to have one with the county, as well.

Lovelace said there are jobs available in the county but attracting available workers has been a task.

“Available workers have been impossible to attract,” he said. “We are now having an issue getting workers, not just in our new industry but in our existing industry.”

Lovelace said moving to incentives that would attract personnel is something they are looking at heavily.

“This is new for us,” he said. “Prior, we gave incentives to get the business here.”

Lovelace said there are 900 jobs in Escambia County open and with more than 500 unemployed people here.

“If you want a job, you can get one,” he said.

Commissioners asked Sullivan what kind of skills were needed for Provalus.

“Those who had very strong STEM background from high school,” he said. “And you need to be able to play in the sandbox with us.”

Additionally, Sullivan said Provalus is looking for people on the help desk side of things who have strong customer service skills, problem solving skills and the ability to show up for work.

Of those who have gone through the Provalus classes, Sullivan said they have seen a 50/50 success rate of those with high school diplomas and those with college degrees.