FORT OGLETHORPE -- Costco Wholesale could start accepting job applications as early as Saturday, according to Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Ronnie Cobb.
And the jobs, which will pay between $11 and $19 an hour, can't come soon enough for Catoosa County residents looking for work.
Interest in the jobs has "just been unbelievable with the people out of work," Mr. Cobb said. "Everybody that sees me says they've got a son or daughter or relative that's out of work."
A Costco administrator at a regional office said the company had not posted anything about job applications for the Fort Oglethorpe club and said the timing of the postings had been in flux. The administrator asked not to be identified because she is not authorized to comment publicly.
The company's website, www.costco.com, features a link at the bottom of the page for "Employment Opportunities." Under that link, applicants can read job descriptions and apply for open positions.
The website states applications usually become available about 12 weeks before a club's opening. This weekend is 17 weeks out from the Fort Oglethorpe Costco's targeted opening date at the end of August.
Catoosa County Commissioner Bobby Winters, who represents the area where the store will be built, said he's asked two or three times a week about jobs at the new retailer.
"They're wondering when they can apply, where they get the application and stuff like that," he said. "I think it's going to be a big help to Catoosa County."
An up-and-running Costco employs about 300 workers, with about 60 percent full-time, a Costco spokesman has said. The new store will employee between 150 and 200, the spokesman said, with the lowest starting wage $11 an hour and the average hourly pay around $19.
Crews have been working sunup to sundown at the site to get the groundwork set for the building. Once the prep work is done, the county will sign over the 16-acre property to Costco about May 24, officials said.
The crews could finish as much as 10 days early, meaning Costco could open a little ahead of schedule, Mr. Cobb said.
"It's going to go quick once it starts," Mr. Cobb said.
List of jobs Costco jobs
Inventory auditor
Payroll clerk
Baker
Cake decorator
Sanitation assistant
Service deli assistant
Food service assistant
Cashier
Maintenance assistant
Membership assistant
Outside marketer
Meat cutter
Meat wrapper
Forklift driver
Stocker
Receiving appointment clerk
Receiving clerk
Tire sales assistant
Licensed hearing aid dispenser
Optical sales assistant
Licensed optician
Non-licensed optician
Registered pharmacist
Pharmacy manager
Pharmacy sales assistant
Pharmacy technician
Photo lab assistant
Photo lab clerk
Print shop assistant
Order picker
Source: www.costco.com
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