RUSTON (AP) — Even though officials say it will be at least six months before a startup auto plant in Ouachita Parish begins taking job applications, investor James Davison says his unrelated company has been flooded with calls from people who want to work there.

Job-seekers have kept the switchboard at Davison Transport lit up since the announcement Wednesday, he said Friday. ‘‘I think that’s a tremendous sign,’’ he said.

Davison owns the former Guide Corp. factory in which the company will assemble its high-mileage, gasoline-powered cars. But he won’t be part of the hiring for the projected 1,400 jobs, averaging $40,000 a year.

All recruiting and training will be done by the Louisiana Economic Development Department’s FastStart program. Director Jeff Lynn said it will create a Web site for applicants, but not for at least six months.

Tim Brown of Bastrop took his resume to Wednesday’s news conference announcing the project.

‘‘I wanted to be the first one in line for a job,’’ said Brown, who is 43 and has been unemployed for almost a year. ‘‘You don’t know how hard I’m looking for something. Hopefully this will boost the economy and provide people with jobs, especially me.’’

Gary Swanner, a West Monroe native who lives in Pennsylvania, would like to move back home. Swanner, 55, worked for a company that financed large construction equipment manufacturers, but was downsized when the building boom went bust.

‘‘I’d love to move home and reunite with family and friends and food and fishing,’’ he said.