The Ironton Port Authority has been turning over a lot of rocks, and they've found another lead: a new employer that may soon bring as many as 100 jobs to the city.

Community Safety is a company that makes fund-raising calls for civic groups. The company has a home base in Minneapolis, Minn. They've already begun moving into the former home of Ohio University Southern's Center for Innovation and Leadership on North Second Street.

Bill Dickens, chairman of the Ironton Port Authority, was naturally happy about the announcement, but said that the IPA still has its work cut out for it.

"We're optimistic," Dickens said. "We've worked hard, turned over a lot of stones Š but we still have a long way to go."

The company will begin operations on Oct. 3 with a staff of approximately 20 and an expectation to increase that number to 100 within a year.

The employees will operate a Community Safety call center out of the building. One of the first employees to be hired is Greg Bryant, an Ironton resident who'll serve as operations manager for the building.

Bryant said that the company explored other options in the Ashland and Russell areas but decided on Ironton because of strong support from Ironton business people, the Lawrence County One Stop and the port authority.

Beginning today, applications for work at Community Safety will be accepted at the One Stop Center at 120 N. Third St.