MURFREESBORO (AP) - The bitter-cold weather hasn't stopped hundreds of Middle Tennessee residents from standing outside for hours waiting to apply for open positions at Nissan North American.

Markeisha Hayward told The Tennessean that she arrived at 6 a.m. Saturday for the job fair that started three hours later (http://tnne.ws/v1WJDp). There was already a line. Yates Services hosted the event to fill 1,100 positions for Nissan.

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development area manager R.J. Sherr says all the jobs are assembly line positions on third shift that pay between $12.50 and $18.50 an hour.

"There is a Nissan made every minute in that line," he said.

Hayward said the potential reward was worth the wait.

She said getting a job offer would be "truly a blessing."

"It is very critical for me to find a job. I need the pay, especially with the economy like it is. I have to support my family," Hayward said.