WHSV TV-3
by Avery Powell

FISHERSVILLE, Va. — Dominion's Atlantic Coast Pipeline is looking to get the communities it is going through involved with the project by holding construction expos around the pipeline route.

On December 8, Dominion held an expo at the Augusta Expo in Fishersville, bringing together subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors for the pipeline's construction in one place.

Dominion estimates the pipeline construction will support more than 8000 jobs in Virginia and bring in more than $10 million in local property tax revenue. It will also take more than 1000 jobs to operate the pipeline in Virginia. Dominion spokesman Aaron Ruby says reaching out to the local communities for those jobs is key.

"This is a huge project and we really can't do it without the local workforce and the local businesses," Ruby said.

The 600-mile pipeline will span three states and is bringing folks from across the Commonwealth, including Charles Loughlin, who came all the way from Allegheny County for the expo.

"Right now I'm laid off, I've been landscaping and right now because of the season change, we're not doing anything," said Loughlin "(I could) really use this job, help out with bills and stuff."

Loughlin hopes to find a job in welding on the project.

"(I) fell in love with welding, found out about this and figured it'd be a good project to get on and make a career out of it and grow and learn from other people and get our and see other places besides Allegheny County," said Loughlin.

Construction is expected to begin on the pipeline in fall 2017.

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