ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- The massive electric car battery plant in Hardin County is still under construction, but it's hiring.
On Tuesday, BlueOval SK hosted a job fair at its new executive office space in Elizabethtown that will serve as a recruiting center.
Despite the delay in the start of production at one of the plants, known as Kentucky 2, BlueOval officials told WDRB News they are still committed to hiring 5,000 employees for the site in Glendale.
The first plant, known as Kentucky 1, is still on track to open with 2,500 employees in 2025. BlueOval SK's Human Resources Director, Neva Burke, said this recruiting event is a big step to fill some of those positions.
"I want people in Kentucky to feel that this is a place they can get long-term career," Burke said. "These are great jobs. This is not traditional manufacturing. This is manufacturing at its best with advanced technology."
Burke said some of those workers will be hired over the next few months.
Tim Smith and his son-in-law, Victor Burton, both applied for positions at the plant.
"It wouldn't be just a job. It would be a career," Smith said. "It's up and coming for the future, and we wanted to be a part of it."
Michael Sanders has a job, but has been looking forward to learning more about the possibilities at BlueOval SK.
"This is the opportunity of a lifetime," Sanders said. "I don't mind starting on the ground floor and working my way up, if that's what it takes to get in, that's what I'm going to do."
BlueOval SK is now taking applications for human resources positions, production operators, engineers, quality and safety workers and maintenance technicians.
"And we have something called associate maintenance technicians for people that have some skills, but they want to be developed," Burke said.
Burke said they're looking beyond specific job experience.
"Problem-solving, trouble-shooting, people with commitment, dedicated to the job," Burke said. "People with good attendance. We're looking for some basic life skills."
Burke said as workers are hired and brought on, they'll go through training, and start some work ahead of the first plant's completion in 2025. If you're interested in learning more about positions, click here.
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