Lake Oconee hotel resort a boon to Greene County

GREENSBORO - After losing almost 700 jobs to plant closings last year, Greene County sees the opening of a grand resort hotel at Lake Oconee as a badly needed economic boost. <br> <br> Nearly 800 people stood in line for hours recently to apply for 450 jobs at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation. <br> <br> ``To me, there are really no jobs around here,&#39;&#39; said Muszetta Brown, one of the job-seekers. ``All you see is McDonald&#39;s, and mostly teen-agers are doing that.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Brown lost her job at Chipman-Union&#39;s hosiery plant in Union Point after more than 24 years. The 52-year-old mother of four made $11 an hour at the plant, one of two Chipman-Union facilities to close after the 115-year-old company lost major contracts with Adidas and the Odor Eaters brand of socks. <br> <br> The pay might not be as good at the Ritz-Carlton, where Brown hopes to get on as a florist, banquet manager or concierge. But overall, economic development officials in the county, which is about midway between Atlanta and Augusta, expect the resort to benefit the entire community. <br> <br> Sales taxes from the lodge are estimated to average $2.5 million a year over the next 20 years. <br> <br> The opening of the $120 million Ritz-Carlton in March fits an overall strategy to add tourism to an economic base historically anchored by agriculture, timber and manufacturing. <br> <br> Smaller hotels, restaurants and shops are expected to follow. Publix plans to open a 40,000-square-foot supermarket in Greensboro in late fall. The store will employ 100 people. <br> <br> The Chipman-Union closings caused the county&#39;s unemployment rate to soar to 12.5 percent in December. That compares to the state&#39;s overall rate of 4.2 percent, the same as Greene County&#39;s in December 2000. <br> <br> ``So many people worked 20 to 30 years at Chipman-Union,&#39;&#39; said Lynn Hudson, president of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce. ``It&#39;s going to be hard to go into the same salary range.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> At the resort, officials say hourly wages will range from $8 to $10. The base pay for tip positions will be lower. <br> <br> But work is work. <br> <br> ``I thought I was going to be there forever,&#39;&#39; said Gloria Milton, who was laid off at Chipman-Union. ``I&#39;ve looked around and nobody is hiring. But life goes on. I&#39;m hoping and praying that I can go to the Ritz-Carlton.&#39;&#39;

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