News and Sentinel
By Brett Dunlap

WASHINGTON - DuPont Washington Works will be hiring additional workers in the coming months.

The plant announced 40 new process operators will report to work in July and August, said Robin Ollis-Stemple of external affairs at the DuPont Washington Works plant.

The first 20 will report to work on July 6 to begin a five-week training program and the second group of 20 will follow on Aug. 9, plant officials said.

"We are indebted to Workforce WV, who has provided the services needed to manage the application process, and to all of the Wood County officials who have facilitated the background checks that have allowed us to expedite the hiring," Ollis-Stemple said.

Hiring for additional positions are already under way for the next year.

The plant is in the process of interviewing for an additional 50-70 positions, which will include chemical operators, process operators, materials handling operators, electrical and instrument mechanics and area maintenance mechanics over the next 12-18 months, plant officials said.

''The positions are open due to backfilling normal attrition due to retirements,'' Ollis-Stemple said. ''We are filling the positions now because customer demand warrants hiring at this time.''

Plant officials continually praised the quality of the local workforce.

"There is an extremely qualified and capable workforce in the Mid-Ohio Valley and we are pleased with the response," said plant manager Karl Boelter.