Lynchburg, Virginia will be welcoming 350 new jobs with the opening of a Wal-Mart this August.  In a Wal-Mart Stores, Inc press release, Lynchburg’s mayor Joan Foster says she’s excited about the boost to the economy her town will experience, “We know that this new store will not only be an asset as an employer, but also as a great community partner.”  Along with the new hires, the Wal-Mart Foundation will be donating grants in upwards of $20,000 to Virginia area non-profits including Lynchburg City Schools and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

The new 177,561 square foot store will feature a grocery division along with a deli and bakery as well as over thirty other departments including electronics, apparel and a lawn and garden center with drive through capabilities.  Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Lynchburg Wal-Mart will also feature centers for vision, pharmaceuticals, health and beauty, photo printing and more.  These centers will call for 350 hires, thirty of which have been employed by Wal-Mart for ten or more years.  Hourly associates in Virginia working full-time are expected to be making on average $11.70 an hour and benefits will be available for full and part time workers including health care, profit-sharing, and a 401(k) plan.