NATCHEZ — Representatives of the local hospitality industry will gather later this month for a job fair at the Natchez Mall.

The fair, which will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 31, is a combined effort from Alcorn State University, Natchez Inc., the WIN Job Center and the Natchez Mall.

“We are specifically targeting hospitality and tourism businesses — especially restaurants and hotels — but the main focus is behind it is for the new French America cruise line river cruise boat,” Alcorn’s Special Assistant to the President for Community and Economic Development Ruth Nichols said.

“They will be hiring 45 to 50 people from our area, and the only requirements are that you be 21.”

The average salary associated with the boat is $40,000 annually with full benefits, Nichols said, and people who work on the boat will spend four weeks on and two weeks off.

“If we don’t find enough good people in Natchez, we will be reaching out to Brookhaven, McComb and Vicksburg, but hopefully we will find them in our hometown,” she said.

“They will put them through customer service, work ethics and communication training, because those are the kinds of things they are expecting their people to be good at.”

All applicants for the boat job will be asked to take the WorkKeys assessment, Nichols said.

Representatives from Applebees — which will open a Natchez location this summer — will be at the fair, as well as a number of local hotels and restaurants, including Hotel Vue, the Vue’s Pilot House restaurant, the Dunleith properties, Hampton Inn and others.

Any business that wants to participate in the fair can contact Natchez Inc. at 601-445-0288.