BY ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@tidewaternews.com

FRANKLIN—For Jhaquel Nicholson, the opportunity for a new job took him to Ruth Camp Campbell Memorial Library in Franklin on Thursday.

“I need a steady job,” said Nicholson, who was recently laid off from his seasonal position at Walmart. “I am just really hoping to embark on a new employment venture. For me at this point a job is better than no job.”

The Franklin native was among 150 to attended a Job Club meeting at the library, where Green Mountain Coffee Roasters was the guest. The Virginia Unemployment Commission and the library co-hosted the meeting.

Green Mountain is continuing to hire for its production and distribution site at the Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park on Route 460 in Windsor. The Vermont-based company, which plans to hire an additional 100 employees, makes single-serve portion K-cup packets for the Keurig brewing system.

Once fully operational, Green Mountain plans to operate 20 to 24 hours a day.

Nicholson heard about the Job Club event from a friend as did Justin Boone.

Boone, also from Franklin, said he wouldn’t mind the commute to Windsor if it meant a decent paying job.

“I need something that pays better than minimum wage to help me through college and all of my other bills,” the PDCCC student said.

Career Coach Alan Scott felt the event was a success.

“It was very humbling to see all of the interest today,” said Scott, who works with the PDCCC Regional Development Workforce Center. “We are here trying to help folks get jobs.”

Scott feels one of the biggest obstacles applicants face is the interview.

“That’s where our Job Club comes in,” he said. “We try to help people learn how to prepare for the interview, as well as resume writing and other parts involved in the application process,” he said.

As for Nicholson, he remains hopeful.

“This fair was definitely a good idea, especially for people out there like me who have lost their holiday jobs,” he said.

The Job Club meets 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the library.