Success stories

As one of America’s leading producers of coal, Alpha Natural Resources started seven years ago with just seven employees and a vision. Today, that vision has grown into a $4 billion company with more than 6,200 employees. Ensuring the sustainability of this important resource as well as looking after its employees, communities and environment is not just important, it’s a priority the company is deeply committed to.

Alpha and the PA CareerLink® Greene County collaborated on a project to recruit and screen applicants for the mining industry. Since July 1, 2009, 1,418 applicants were recruited, and 719 individuals were tested by the PA CareerLink® using TABE and SAGE. A total of 818 applicants were referred to job orders, and 158 were ultimately hired by the company at an average hourly wage of $22.85. Alpha also financially supports the PA CareerLink® Greene County as a Community Partner and serves as a leader in the Mining Industry Partnership as a part of its Management Committee.

The PA CareerLink® can always count on Alpha to participate in its job fairs and expos and provide staff to serve on focus groups for Commonwealth Workforce Development System (CWDS) and state CareerLink® marketing groups. As a worksite for an internship in a STEM occupation (engineering), this company is an integral part of the Summer Youth Employment Program.

With community involvement a large priority, Alpha supports a number of local initiatives. They sponsor the Annual Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce Scholarship; the Challenge Program for the Greene County Career and Technology Center and Jefferson Morgan High School; are a Silver Sponsor for the Greene County Fair; and an event sponsor for the Rotary Club of Waynesburg’s Winter Gala. Serving as a major sponsor of the Business

Ambassador for the Challenge Program at Jefferson-Morgan Junior Senior High School and the Greene County Career and Technology Center, Alpha provides funds as an incentive for students to attend school, improve their grades, attain the highest GPA, and perform community service. They kick off the year by presenting educational skits designed to help the students realize the value of interview skills and a good work ethic.

As one of the Greene County United Way’s largest sponsors, Alpha helps with annual campaigns accounting for more than half of the overall funds raised. Alpha also supports various other programs throughout the year, including “Stuff the Bus” and the Annual Day of Caring. Two Alpha employees sit on the Greene County United Way’s Board of Directors. Serving as a partner with Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful, Alpha financially assists with the new streetscape for the borough. As a major contributor to the local Aquatic Center, Alpha helps provide fun and recreation during the summer to people from all around the area.

Supportive of the local Salvation Army, Alpha provides funds each year to purchase Thanksgiving food boxes for needy folks in Greene County and also helps to support their summer camp for kids. Every Christmas, Alpha’s employees participate in Angel Tree activities, buying presents for foster and other needy children in Greene County.

The company also supports the Waynesburg Lion’s Club, where activities have included: renovation of a pavilion at the Lion’s Club Park; becoming the largest supporter of their annual cashew sale by buying a jar of cashews for all 1,500+ employees; and, for the last three years, they have sponsored the annual Fourth of July Fireworks.

Mindful of the need to build a pipeline of skilled workers for this industry, Alpha also contributed to the revitalization of the Mining Technology Program at Penn State Fayette, where employees helped to draft the curriculum and even teach parts of the program.