Hundreds apply for 25 possible spots at McKeesport medical marijuana firm
Pennsylvania, that last month received a permit to build and operate a medical marijuana grow and process facility. Thursday’ s job fair followed a ground breaking ceremony at the building site meant to celebrate and welcome the new business.
When it opens, maybe by Thanksgiving, Mr. Per low said ,25 people will be work-ing at the five-acre former steel mill site in McKee sport’ s RIDC Indus-trial Park, a workforce he projects to grow to 50 in three years and 100 by year five.
No one will make less than double the going mini-mum wage, he says, which would currently come to $14.50 an hour. But, based on comments from some of the 1,000- plus queued up at the Palisades Center, the pay was only part of the draw.
Pure Penn’ s application packet also promises medi-cal, dental and vision cover-age, retirement savings and paid time off.
“I have two children, so I can definitely use the benefits,” said Karly Lorence, 31, of Belle Vernon who lost her data entry job a month ago.
The first applicants arrived at 2 p. m., two hours before the door opened, and the line stretched back to and around Market Street by 4 p. m. Some came in T- shirts, shorts and flip- flops. Self- employed IT specialist Charles Crum, 52, of New Stanton stood out in a nice suit and tie.
With a wife and two children, one in college and the other a high school senior, Mr. Crum came because he sees an opportunity to share his expertise and provide for his family as well. “Being self- employed has its advantages, but it also has a lot of disadvantages,” he said.
PurePenn’s eight or so job classifications range from packager — requiring attention to detail, as well as an “ability to read scales” and manual dexterity — to managers in sales and cultivation, which call for a minimum three years’ experience. Those who could not attend the job fair have been encouraged to apply online at www.purepenn.com.
Jason Miller, 34 of Munhall, said he didn’t have a particular position in mind, but, after being laid off after 16 years with a Verona to- bacco wholesale business that recently went out of business, he just wanted to see what was being offered.
Peggy Hart, who tends a Moose Lodge bar, and Brenda Welsh, who works in home health, said they drove up because“there are no jobs in Connellsville.
”A few hours before the job fair, Mr. Per low and digni-taries including state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKee sport, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitz-gerald and McKee sport Mayor Mike Cherepkoheaded a groundbreaking at the building site.
“It’s an unbelievably great day for the city of McKee sport ,” Mr.Cherepko said before the ceremony .“It’ s not just the economic benefit, but also being on the forefront of this up-and-coming indus-try that’s going to have such an important impact on medical care for the res-idents of Pennsylvania .”
Sitting in the front row during the speeches were Joe and Danielle McGurk’ s daughters, Leah, 15, and Olivia ,12, whose seizures from ara reform of epilepsy have decreased once they had access to medical mari-juana. Today ,“they are do-ing really well ,” said Mrs. McGurk.
During the ceremony, Mr.Perlow presented a $50,000 check to launch the McKee sport Community Fund and promised a share of Pure Penn’ s profits to the city.