Preparations are currently under way for a labor survey to be conducted by the Butler County Commission for Economic Development on behalf of the London, Ky., based Image Entry Corporation, currently considering locating a facility in the former Pride Craft building in Georgiana, and organizers are asking for total community involvement for the survey to be successful.

BCCED Director Ricky McClaney said the survey comes at the request of the company for the purpose of gathering information on the available work force in the area.

"The company has requested this labor survey to get a closer look at our people," McClaney said. "Even though we show high unemployment figures and a high number of qualified applicants on file at the employment office, they still want to get a chance to meet us."

McClaney said representatives from Image Entry will be in Georgiana on April 27, 28 and 29 to conduct the survey and will be available during extended hours to accommodate people working different shifts. He said the company wants to get a look at the overall qualifications, appearance and work history of potential applicants in the area to make sure Butler County and the surrounding areas can support the necessary workforce of some 200 people in the near future.

"They are looking for the good attributes of a worker," McClaney said, "And we want people to come prepared for a job-interview type setting."

McClaney said participants will be asked to fill out a one-page form that will provide company officials with a thumbnail sketch of their employment background. He said participants should come prepared with necessary information pertaining to dates and positions held, salary history and special skills.

"We are going to keep the process simple so people can move through the survey quickly," McClaney said.

He said

people should be aware that participation in the labor survey does not mean one is actually applying to Image Entry, but he said it is a way for the company to narrow down potential applicants for future call-backs. McClaney said company officials will be on hand to meet with each person participating in the survey.

He said it is vital to the community to have strong support for the labor survey. He said the number of people who participate will have a direct effect on whether or not Butler County is chosen as the site of choice for Image Entry, and that number can also be used to recruit other business to the area.

A flier explaining the details of the labor survey will be distributed through this newspaper and other area businesses in the near future, and McClaney said he encourages the community to get involved and send as many people as possible down to fill out a survey form during the event.

Image Entry was recently awarded a $1.5 million contract to do income tax data processing for the Alabama Department of Revenue and will have positions available in management, supervisory, clerical/mailroom and data entry positions.

The company offers competitive wages, excellent benefits, incentive packages and advancement opportunities.

"This is a strong organization that could mean hundreds of jobs to our area in the near future," McClaney said. "The people of the county need to get out and support this survey so we can show Image Entry that we really want them here in Butler County."