AUGUSTA. Ga. (WFXG) - Central EMS expects to be the zone provider for Richmond County on May 8th, but before the company can put ambulances on the ground, they need to hire a staff.

“We’re bringing the operation to Augusta. We’re not going to be running this from Atlanta. We want to make this our home as well,” Jonathan Walker of Central EMS tells FOX54.

Managers have been in the CSRA hiring paramedics, EMTs, EMRs, mechanics, and office staff this week. Nearly 100 applicants have left the two-day hiring far with job offers, many scheduled to start full-time work in May.

Walker says working for Central EMS is not like working for most ambulance providers.

“We call it the Central Family, and it is. Corey Thomas, the VP, did my orientation 12 years ago. We’ve all been here for quite a long time. We have head leadership in the company here in Augusta this week trying to share what Central’s about and bring people into our family.”

He says this company has seen success in its two-day hiring event. “The first responder community is very tight-knit. We’re seeing a lot of people who want to help the community. Some who haven’t worked in first response are coming out because they want to get back in and be a part of this.”

Central EMS invites those who missed the job fair to apply online. He says Central's efforts to build a local presence continues, as training will be offered to other area job-seekers soon. 

“We’re hiring from within the community because nobody knows it better than the people who are here.”

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