PROCTORVILLE ­— If you build it, they will come.

Seven of the eight buildings being constructed for the 87-unit, $13.5 million Wyngate at RiversEdge senior housing community in Proctorville are under roof and a job fair was held on Wednesday at Ohio University Southern’s Proctorville Center to begin filling the 70-plus jobs being created by the project.

Helen Blankenship, an intern at the Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce, said prospective employees were lined up at 9:30 a.m. to fill out applications during the event, which didn’t start until 10 a.m.

The development is a project of Chancellor Senior Management LLC and Brooke Dunleavy, the company’s head of regional operations, said she was impressed with both the turnout and the applicants.

“The interest has been terrific so far,” she said. “I’m excited to see so many people here. When the job fair was first advertised our home office got a lot of calls, our Barboursville, W.Va., property got a lot of calls and so did the university.”

Dunleavy said she personally interviewed 25 applicants and anticipated more as the day progressed. Many other applicants dropped off resumes, she said.

Chancellor is filling five management and 70 other full and part-time positions ranging from registered and licensed practical nurses, housekeeping, business office positions, resident assistants, cooks, maintenance and program coordinators in addition to assistants for these positions.

Huntington, W.Va., resident J.T. Roberts is currently employed but was attracted to the fair by a possible pay increase and a better work environment.

“I’m working right now for a fast food establishment,” Roberts said, “but I’m not getting any hours. I saw the ad for this job fair and realized I have experience in a lot of the things they are looking for, so here I am.”

Barboursville resident Khellie Caldwell, 24, applied for two positions.

“I’m currently not working and had to withdraw from college because of medical problems,” she said. “I have a child and really want to work for a while before going back to school. I’m looking for a career though, and if I get that opportunity then that’s what I’m going to do.”

Chancellor management said the development’s construction is on schedule to open in April.