Plus, job and business opportunity fairs
Special to the American
The line of eager job seekers stretched around the building more than an hour and a half before U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO) opened his recent 3rd Annual Career Fair at Harris-Stowe State University. By noon, over 3,000 guests had come through the doors and, by end of day, overall attendance numbered 4,000 visitors.
“This incredible community response exceeded my greatest hopes for the Career Fair,” said Clay.
“I was especially thrilled to see so many young people taking advantage of our new summer jobs program, in partnership with the City of St. Louis, Better Family Life and Urban Solutions. Our kids are ready to work. They were well-prepared, well-dressed, totally respectful and I’m very proud of them.”
Adult job seekers were able to meet with over 100 top St. Louis employers, including: the Boeing Company; GKN Aerospace; Ameren; BJC Healthcare Systems; Best Buy; Office Depot; Lumiere Place; Harrah’s; Ameristar; the U.S. Postal Service; the U.S. Census Bureau; UPS; the St. Louis Public Library; and the FBI.
For the very first time in St. Louis, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management joined the Career Fair lineup by providing a one-stop shop for interested job seekers to learn about, and apply for, over 100,000 federal jobs worldwide. OPM officials also conducted special break-out sessions on federal employment opportunities.
Clay’s First District Career Fair was presented with the help and support of Harris-Stowe State University and all of the vendor partners.
“Unemployment and underemployment is a huge issue in the First Congressional District,” Clay said, “and our Career Fair directly targets that urgent need.”
Partnership Job Fair
Twenty companies (such as Drury Hotels, Schnuck Markets, UPS and more) will meet with job seekers at the Partnership for the New Workforce Job Fair on Thursday, June 5, 1-4 p.m at The MET Center, 6347 Plymouth Ave. in Wellston.
The Partnership for the New Workforce (Partnership) is a collaboration of area employers, and employment and training service providers whose primary goal is to bring together trained and work ready job seekers with employers who need new workers. The Partnership targets the employment and career development needs of first-time job seekers as well as others who are reentering the job market, including older workers, ex-offenders, empty nesters and individuals with disabilities.
Since 1998 these job fairs have led to the placement of more than 1,000 job seekers.
This free event is presented by the Partnership, which includes private employers as well as ARCHS, United Way of Greater St. Louis, North County CARES and The MET Center.
For more information, contact 314-539-4072.
SLMBC Business Opportunity Fair
The 2008 Business Opportunity Fair, sponsored by the St. Louis Minority Business Council, returns to America’s Center on Tuesday, June 10.
The Opportunity Fair, which delivers chances for minority entrepreneurs to meet with majority business owners and their peers, is from 1:30-5 p.m. One-on-one sessions will also be held concurrently from 1:45-5 p.m. A closing reception will follow.
On Wednesday June 11, the first Construction Opportunity Summit (COS) will be held at America’s Center.
Called “the only construction fair focused on minority contractor and supplier participation,” the summit is designed “to deliver expert insight into the construction industry while creating viable contract and partnership opportunities,” according to James Webb, SLMBC president.
“If you have a passion for doing business with women and minorities and have opportunities to discuss, this is the event for you.”
For additional information and to register, go to www.slmbc.org.