New coal mine to open and provide hundreds of jobs in So IL

By Julia Bruck - bio | email

BENTON, IL (KFVS) -  A natural resource will once again help bring jobs to the Heartland.  On Saturday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn stopped in Franklin County to announce a new underground coal mine and hundreds of jobs.

The mine will be located in Hamilton County.  It's expected to create 300 construction jobs along with 350 permanent jobs.  Quinn added this mine will also provide thousands of other jobs across southern Illinois.

"There's a lot of supply and contracting services jobs that service that one coal mining job. So all together, I think the number of jobs, all together is 2,450, direct and indirect jobs," Governor Pat Quinn said.

Meanwhile the Hamilton County Board Chairman says the jobs created by the mine will help cut the county's crime problem.

"When you create jobs you remove all of the incentive for people that don't have money that get on drugs," Donald Mitchell said.

Hamilton County is expected to receive more than 6 million dollars in royalties during the first five years the mine is open.

The White Oak Mine is expected to start producing coal in late 2012 or early 2013.

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