Starting today and continuing until July 14, Ford Motor Company is accepting applications to hire 1,800 new workers at the Louisville Assembly Plant on Fern Valley Road, Mayor Greg Fischer announced today.  The workers are needed to produce the new Ford Escape following the $600 million re-tooling and transformation of the plant to make it the most modern, flexible plant in the company.

“This is the biggest expansion of jobs in Louisville by an individual company in years,” Fischer said. “It’s a major boost to our economy and, more importantly, it’s a major boost to the tens of thousands of our citizens who are unemployed and looking for work.”

Total employment at the Assembly Plant, when it reaches full capacity in 2012, will be 2,900 – an increase of 1,800 employees compared to when the plant shut down last December, according for Ford executives.

Citizens may apply for these jobs by visiting the Kentucky Office for Employment and Training at 600 West Cedar in downtown Louisville starting today and continuing until 5 p.m. next Thursday, July 14.

Some of the hires will be made from former Ford workers who were laid off in the past; others will be new hires to the company. “The bottom line – this is 1,800 new jobs for our city,” said Joe Reagan, President of Greater Louisville Inc.

Because Ford expects more than 1,800 to apply for these positions, people will be chosen for employment consideration based on a lottery. Individuals interested in participating in the lottery must obtain, complete and return a form from the Cedar St. office.

Individuals whose numbers are drawn in the lottery will be given the opportunity to participate in pre-employment testing for potential employment with the company. There is a limit of one form per person – so, if several members of one family wish to be part of the lottery, one person cannot receive forms for other family members.

Contact sheets and voluntary supplemental sheets can be picked up at the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, 600 West Cedar Street, Louisville, KY 40202-2396 beginning immediately and must be returned before the close of business Thursday, July 14th, 2011. Individuals whose numbers are drawn in the lottery will be given the opportunity to participate in pre-employment testing for potential employment with the company. Due to the fact there will be a limited number of applicants chosen; interested individuals should get a contact sheet ASAP. Limit one per customer.

Job Summary - The responsibility of a Production assembler can include but not be limited to:

• The mass-assembling of various components
• Manually installing various components using hand tools and power tools and power-operated fastening tools to install parts
• Working in a team environment - must demonstrate the ability to self-start, follow up and continually build relationships to improve Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost
• Assist in various other general assembly activities as required.
• Performance of the position requires attention to detail, repetitive motion and manual dexterity.
• Assemblers must be willing to change shifts and work overtime as required.
• Starting rate of pay is $15.51
• Hospital-Surgical-Medical-Drug coverage will be provided as of the first day of the eighth month following date of hire and LTSS enrollment is limited to the National Preferred Provider Organization (NPPO)
• Long-Term Supplemental employees accrue no credit towards acquiring seniority.

*Note that the anticipated job opportunities are for temporary and full-time employment.

Contact sheets and voluntary supplemental sheets can be picked up at the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, 600 West Cedar Street, Louisville, KY 40202-2396 beginning Thursday, July 7th, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. and must be returned before the close of business Thursday, July 14th, 2011 at the same location listed above, no exceptions.