By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
April 19, 2002
Relief for hundreds of jobless workers in Quitman County could come as early as Tuesday when the state's economic development agency and other groups sponsor a job fair.
The event will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Quitman. Employers are expected to man 28 booths representing businesses from as far away as Arkansas and Tennessee.
The day before, job applicants can receive help preparing resumes from representatives of Jones County Junior College. Sessions are set for 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Clarke County Vocational Center.
The event is designed to help residents of Clarke County and surrounding areas. It comes more than four months after Burlington Industries announced it would close its plant.
The Stonewall plant was Clarke County's largest employer. Its closing is expected to leave more than 800 people, including 600 Clarke County residents, out of work.
The job fair is sponsored by the MDA, the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce, the Mississippi Employment Security Commission, local businesses and local governmental bodies.
Paul Mosley, president of the Clarke County Board of Supervisors, said the job fair could be a temporary fix for those left jobless.
Kay Rolison, president of the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce, said her organization has had several meetings in the last two months preparing for the job fair.