Applications keep coming for the FPL Solar Power facility in Western Martin County

Applications keep coming for the FPL Solar Power facility in Western Martin County
INDIANTOWN — Another 3,500 job applications were taken Saturday at Timer Powers Park in Indiantown on the last day of a two-day job fair to recruit workers for the Florida Power &Light Co. Solar Power facility in western Martin County.
In all, 8,000 applied for some 1,100 jobs the project is expected to bring to the area before construction closes at the end of next year.
“That’s a fair but maybe conservative number,” said John Dinger of Workforce Solutions, which collected the applications and will immediately begin prescreening them.
To accommodate early arrivals, fair organizers once again opened the lines prior to the planned 10 a.m. start time. Friday, unofficial reports from volunteers indicated job seekers began arriving Thursday evening and in the predawn hours Friday to be at the head of the line.
“We probably got started about 9:15 this morning,” Dinger said. “We made an absolute commitment to the community that we would be there until 4 p.m. to take applications and we were there until 4 p.m.”
Those unable to apply in person at the fair still have an opportunity to submit applications.
“You can go to the local Workforce Solutions office in your area and fill out an application and, beginning next week, you can go online at yourworkforcesolutions.com to apply,” Dinger said.
Despite the large turnout — organizers originally anticipated receiving approximately 3,000 applications in total — Dinger said the resumes and applications should be screened and forwarded to project contractor Lauren Engineers & Contractors within two weeks.
“Lauren has let us know what keywords and qualifications they’re looking for. Each county (office) will do its own applications sorted by positions, so we should have the screening completed in about 10 to 14 days,” he said.
Though the final tally by county was not yet in Saturday evening, Dinger said St. Lucie County, hampered with a 12.8 percent unemployment rate, appeared to lead area counties on Friday.
“I think St. Lucie County was running ahead of Martin County yesterday, but I believe it began to even out today,” he said.
At least 1,000 Palm Beach County residents also submitted applications at the fair, and Saturday saw hopefuls arriving from as far away as Tennessee and California, Dinger said.
Despite the multitudes, the two-day event went off completely without incident.
“Once again people came prepared, and we had a little more crew today,” Dinger said. “It was wonderful. With that many people over two days we didn’t have one incident with law enforcement.”
Scores of volunteers from the Indiantown Western Martin County Chamber of Commerce and Indiantown Nonprofit Housing Inc. assisted with the fair directing traffic, parking cars, manning booths and providing information.
“This type of event in no way goes this seamlessly without the support of the whole community. We are so grateful,” Dinger said.