An addendum to an older discussion on coal mining.

Inmates vying for coal mining jobs in Appalachia

HARLAN, Ky. — Jerry Elliott hopes to trade his jail jumpsuit and slippers for a hardhat and work boots when he comes up for parole later this year.

Mining is one of the few bright spots in Kentucky's otherwise dismal economy, and with coal prices high, officials have picked an unusual classroom — a county jail — to teach potential miners a dangerous, difficult job.

Elliott and about 20 other inmates at the Harlan County Detention Center crowd into a drab, locked room each Wednesday to learn the ins and outs of the mining industry, which employs 17,000 in Kentucky.

Their goal? Land lucrative jobs in the Appalachian coalfields, where hardy workers are in high demand.

"I've learned you can't prosper from bad money," said Elliott, who is serving time for drug trafficking. "An honest living, that's the only life."

Paul Matney, human resources director for Kentucky-based TECO Coal Corp., said his company already counts some ex-cons among its 1,200 employees and wouldn't rule out hiring more.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/National/US_Mining_Outlaws.html