**The big picture:** The Liberty Advanced Manufacturing & Power (LAMP) campus in Liberty County, Texas, has received 204 applications for 35 operational roles, focusing on safety, field operations, and utilities ahead of its production phase. **Why it matters:** This early-stage hiring strategy for a permanent workforce allows for thorough training and safety protocol establishment, mitigating disruption during plant startup and reflecting regional labor market dynamics. **Between the lines:** - 68 candidates are currently in active screening for roles across seven functions, with operations having the largest share of postings. - Strongest interest is in EHS Technician, Safety Specialist, Process Operator, Field, and Utilities and Wastewater Operator positions. - The regional labor market in the Gulf Coast industrial corridor provides a skilled workforce with transferable experience in process operations and industrial safety. **Staffing & HR impact:** Proactive hiring for operational roles before production minimizes staffing bottlenecks and ensures a well-trained workforce, potentially reducing turnover and improving safety compliance. This approach also allows local training programs to align with future talent needs. **The bottom line:** LAMP's deliberate pre-production staffing strategy highlights a best practice for industrial site workforce development, leveraging local talent pools for critical operational roles.