Ford Motor Co. began accepting applications in July for the 1,800 jobs the company is adding at its Louisville Assembly Plant.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said during a news conference that the jobs are part of a $600 million retooling at the plant.

“This is the biggest expansion of jobs in Louisville by an individual company in years,” Fischer said. “It’s a major boost to our economy and, more importantly, it’s a major boost to the tens of thousands of citizens who are unemployed and looking for work.”

Fischer said the jobs are for assembly-type line work, and that starting pay would be $15.51 an hour.

A news release from the mayor’s office said applicants will be chosen for employment based on a lottery. Anyone interested in participating in the lottery must obtain, complete and return a form. Individuals whose numbers are drawn will be given the opportunity to participate in pre-employment testing for potential employment with Ford.

Curt Magleby, Ford’s director of U.S. state and local government relations, said the jobs will be filled through a combination of transferring employees from other Ford plants, recalling workers on indefinite layoff and hiring new workers.

“Working closely with the (United Auto Workers), we are committed to hiring and training a work force that can continue to focus on producing the world’s best vehicles to support our customers,” Magleby said.

The renovations are to prepare for production of the next-generation Ford Escape sport-utility vehicle. Escapes previously were built in Kansas City, Mo. Production of the Ford Explorer SUV, previously built in Louisville, has moved to Chicago.

With the renovations, Louisville Assembly Plant, will become the automaker’s most technologically advanced plant in the world, officials have said.

If customer demand shifts, the plant will be flexible enough to produce any of 10 other vehicles built on the same platform.

The plant employed about 1,100 people before it was closed earlier this year for the retooling.

When the plant re-opens later this year, it will employ about 2,900 people operating on two shifts.