HINGHAM, Mass. -- Women's clothing retailer Talbots Inc. is cutting 129 jobs in its corporate offices, including one of its top executive positions.
The chain said Thursday the job cuts would affect about 9 percent of its corporate employees across multiple locations. Those include Talbots' headquarters in Hingham, and headquarters of the Talbots-owned J. Jill brand in Quincy.
With Talbots' decision to remove the job of chief operating officer, current COO Philip Kowalczyk will leave his post in early July.
The chain of 869 stores expects the moves will save the company $14 million a year. The company has a goal of reducing costs a total $100 million by the end of its next fiscal year.
W.Va. to prepare database of 9,000 billboards
CHARLESTON -- The West Virginia Division of Highways plans to gather information about thousands of billboards alongside more than 550 miles of roads.
State outdoor advertising director Bill Light says the location, size and other identifying information for each sign, including a photograph, will eventually go into a database.
It should help the state's 10 inspectors save time in addressing compliance issues and dealing with billboards damaged by storms.
The state has permitted roughly 9,000 billboards, each of which could have up to four ads.
Light says a $300,000 federal grant is paying for the database, laptops and digital cameras.
Work could begin within six months and should take a year to complete.
Other states have developed similar databases.
Ashland job fair set for Tuesday
ASHLAND -- The annual Ashland Regional Job Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kyova Tri-State Mall on Tuesday, June 10.
Sponsores include the Southwestern Community Action Council Inc.; TENCO One-Stop Career Center; Ashland Community & Technical College; and the Kyova Tri-State Mall
Along with Jumpin' Jack Inflatables and a live B97.1-FM radio remote, the fair will host more than 100 employers. There will also be drawings for gas card giveaways and two free Carrie Underwood tickets given away throughout the day. For more information, contact the Southwestern offices at 304-525-5151. The KYOVA Mall is located at 10699 U.S. 60 East in Ashland.
Training offered for table-game workers
CROSS LANES -- The addition of table games at Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming will mean additional jobs, and West Virginia State Community College is offering training for potential table-game workers.
Anyone interested in getting more information on table games classes can meet with racetrack representatives at 1 Greyhound Drive in Cross Lanes, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Class sessions are 8 a.m. to noon; 1 to 5 p.m. and then 6 to 10 p.m.
Classes to begin the week of June 9 include poker, roulette and black jack. Fees are $490 for a seven-week course, while craps is $770 for 11 weeks. For more information, contact the West Virginia State Community & Technical College Workforce & Economic Development Division at 304-766-5113.
British company agrees to buy ProLogic for $50M
FAIRMONT -- A British defense and security company is buying West Virginia computer networking and software developer ProLogic for $50 million.
Ultra Electronics Holdings says its also paying $5 million in retention bonuses to ProLogic employees and up to $8 million in bonuses for hitting future growth targets.
ProLogic Chief Executive Jay Reddy says the Fairmont-based company's 300 employees in West Virginia, Virginia and 11 other states will keep their jobs.
ProLogic works mostly for the U.S. government and currently has contracts with the Air Force, Army, NASA and the Department of Energy.
Ultra CEO Douglas Caster says ProLogic fits neatly with his company's military capabilities and adds new U.S. customers.
The deal announced this week is expected to close within 30 days.
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