New West Virginia Prison to Hold Job Fair

With a new prison set to open in McDowell County, West Virginia next year, the County Economic Development agency will sponsor a job fair in Welch on May 21st.

The prison is expected to employ 340 people.

McDowell County’s unemployment rate is 9.9%, compared to the state rate of 7.7%. Its population was 27,300 in 2000. It was created in 1858 by the Virginia General Assembly, and named for Virginia Governor James McDowell. It became a part of West Virginia in 1863, when several counties seceded from the state of Virginia during the Civil War.