150 to serve VW supplier

W.J. O'Neil Co. has opened an office and 25,000-square-foot fabricating facility in Chattanooga where it will oversee work for the building of the Volkswagen plant and employ up to 150 people, the company reported Thursday.

The Michigan-based company received a contract to fabricate and install utility piping at the automaker's plant slated to start production in early 2011.

The piping system will deliver gas, air, chilled water, hot water, and steam throughout the plant. The 26th Street facility is employing local pipefitters and plumbers, according to the company.

See an online chat about VW jobs and hiring at timesfreepress.com.

Georgia layoffs near record high

The number of Georgians filing initial claims for unemployment rose again and remained near the peak levels reached last fall, the Georgia Department of Labor said Thursday.

In October, 70,597 laid-off workers filed initial claims for state unemployment insurance benefits in October, up 6 percent from the previous month. Last month’s filings were only 2.8 percent below the level of a year ago when the recession was still worsening.

“This is a stark reminder that job losses are continuing at rates comparable to those experienced at the height of the Great Recession,” Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said.

The state also reported that the average length of time jobless Georgia workers drew unemployment benefits has increased in the past year from 11.6 weeks in October of 2008 to 14.4 weeks last month.

TVA power study plans Monday hearing

The Tennessee Valley Authority will offer an overview of its power planning process and hear comments from the public during a hearing at 6 p.m. Monday at the Marriott Hotel, Plaza C, in downtown Chattanooga.

The federal utility is considering energy options for the next 20 years as it prepares an Integrated Resource Plan for TVA board approval by early 2011. A stakeholder review group assembled by TVA will conduct a listening session on power options at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Chattanooga Marriott.

TVA is studying the best approach to encourage conservation, build more nuclear reactors, purchase more renewable energy or add more gas-fired combustion turbines.