CELINA-Word job openings were available at the new V&F Transformer location here came Monday in the form of a help-wanted ad published in this week’s HORIZON by the company setting up shop in the former Hevi-Duty building in town.

V&F announced they had reached an agreement with the Celina/Clay County Joint Industrial Board and planned to locate a manufacturing presence here back in November of 2010.

Since then, local V&F plant manager Travis Cherry said he and seven other current employees traveled to Bartlett, IL to train at the company’s home base near Chicago.

“Besides going up there for training, we have also been working here getting the plant ready,” Cherry said.  “We’ve now got material and equipment onsite and hope to begin production in the coming weeks.

“That’s why we are looking to hire seven or eight more employees right now.”

Cherry, who worked here for Hevi-Duty for over 30 years, also explained additional jobs may be available as business warrants them.

“Right now we are looking to employ somewhere around 15 people in the next two or three months, but, as business grows, we hope to expand our workforce.”

The ad in this week’s paper said applications would be accepted by the UCHRA office here starting January 9, with the application period being closed on January 13.

It also said the company offers a “competitive salary” and “benefits,” and those hired could expect to “start immediately.”

When V&F officially announced they were expanding here, company co-owner, vice-president, and CFO Dean Foderaro explained the company had grown substantially during the recession and reached capacity at its Illinois plant, therefore warranting the expansion here.

For details regarding the job openings, see the help-wanted ad on page 7-A of the January 4, 2012 issue of the Dale Hollow HORIZON newspaper.