Nearly 800 eastern Kentuckians 'threw their hats in the ring' for coal mining careers at a day-long job fair held in Hazard.

The event, administered in part by the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP), the Perry County JobSight, the L.K.L.P. Community Action Council, and Hazard Community and Technical College brought representatives of several coal companies to the community college campus to take applications from prospective miners.

“We’re looking for the next generation of coal miners,” said George Owens, of Alpha Natural Resources Services.

Those in attendance were organized into large groups to take a 30-minute mechanical aptitude test that shows employers how well the applicants can learn basic mechanical skills. Next, the applicants made their way into the large common area of the college's First Federal Center to speak one-on-one with company representatives and finalize job applications.

Long lines formed in front of each coal company’s station.

Perry County JobSight Manager Jack Duff was pleased with the large turnout.

“The companies said they now have a really good database of jobseekers in the area,” he said.

Duff, who led many of the testing sessions, said the coal companies estimated at least 90 percent of the day’s applicants would be eligible for underground and surface mining jobs.

Coal companies who took applications at the event included: Alpha Natural Resources Services, Blue Diamond Coal, CONSOL Energy, Diamond May Coal, Enterprise Mining, Horizon Natural Resources, Kentucky May Coal, Knott County Mining, Leeco Inc., Leslie Resources, Progress Energy, and TECO Coal.

The event was delivered locally through the combined efforts of Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP), Perry County JobSight, L.K.L.P. Community Action Council, Hazard Community and Technical College, the Kentucky River Area Development District (KRADD), the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, and Kentucky Adult Education.