After months of anticipation, the first sign of construction began last week on the Mt. Zion Institute as a group of local men hired through Palmetto Training began boarding up the windows of the old cafeteria.

The space will soon be the permanent training center for the school’s carpentry, HVAC, electrical and brick masonry programs, said Eddie Jackson, president of Palmetto Training.

Red Clay Development, the North Carolina firm that purchased the old school house from the Town of Winnsboro, asked the local training center to help with finding local residents to work on the project.

“The guys doing the work today are from the Fatherhood Coalition,” Jackson said. “We will be hiring 40 to do the work here. We will need 10 carpentry students, 10 heating and air, or HVAC students, 10 electricians and 10 brick masonry students. Those wanting a job will need to register with One Stop.”

Those selected for the program will receive 500 hours of training as well as be NCCER and OSHA certified.

“As the students complete the program, they will be hired to do the work,” Jackson added.

A general contractor will also be hired.

Frank Warlick, co-owner of Red Clay Development, said the next signs of movement around the building will be the security fence being installed around the building.

Work will continue on the building once all the building permits are received, Warlick explained.

Tonight, Winnsboro Town Council will enter into executive session to discuss the development company’s list of possible businesses that could occupy the building once its renovated.

Last month, Warlick requested to have the property rezoned from R-1 (residential) to PDD (Planned Development District) mix use. At that time he also provided Billy Castle, Building inspector and Zoning Administrator with the Town of Winnsboro with a list of possible uses for the building. Possible uses ranged from administrative offices to retailers.