|
The jobs that Winter Haven has awaited for five years are almost here.
No, really.
CSX officials announced Wednesday they will host a kick-off meeting and job opportunity fair Nov. 10 in Winter Haven to begin the process of hiring the companies and workers it needs to construct the new rail terminal planned for southern Winter Haven.
"At long last, this really is going to happen," said Winter Haven Commissioner Jamie Beckett. "They are getting things in play and getting ready to start hiring; this is fantastic. This is what we have been waiting for."
CSX has had a tentative deal with Winter Haven to buy 932 acres of city property since 2005. It was most recently held back while the SunRail project was delayed by Gov. Rick Scott. The new terminal is needed to serve freight trains that currently run on the rail line SunRail will use, pushing that traffic through tracks in Polk County.
Evansville Western Railway, the CSX subsidiary that actually will build the rail terminal, expects to create 800 construction-related jobs during the initial construction and plans to work with Polk Works to hire additional help.
"We have been very anxious for this project to move forward and we look forward to working with them and meeting any of their recruiting needs," said Paula Bohnstedt, assistant director for WorkForce 2020, the business arm of Polk Works.
The company also plans to use Polk County suppliers and subcontractors when possible.
For the full article, visit the Lakeland Ledger.
|