By Laura Mazur
Community Post

The Auglaize County chambers of commerce are teaming up again today to present the annual job fair.

Area job hunters are encouraged to attend the Auglaize County Job Fair Thursday, April 12, at Easy Campground Banquet Hall on State Route 33, between St. Marys and Wapakoneta, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3 p.m. to see what is available in the local market.

"There will be exhibitors who have opportunities for the individual's future. It is for people who are looking for a job, additional training for his existing job or an additional job," said Jim Coons, executive director, of the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce.

Nearly two dozen booths will be available for browsing of services, education and openings. Strong representation will be present from vocational training schools, advanced educational programs, premiere manufacturers and employment agencies. Admission to the fair is free.

In manufacturing, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, AAP St. Marys, Miller's Textile Service and the West Central Ohio Manufacturing Consortium will be represented with booths.

Local non-manufacturing companies present will be Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, Buckeye Valley Pizza Hut and Celina-based radio station WCSM.
The Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Dan Graf, agreed, "We have a good rate of being able to make connections between the workforce and employers. For those looking for the educational adventure, it's a good place for them to do that."

Running from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and from 1-4 p.m. next week, the fair will host students from a number of county schools.

Students at high schools in St. Marys, Wapakoneta and Tri Star Career Compact have been invited for the morning session of the event; in the afternoon, Minster, New Bremen and New Knoxville schools have been invited to attend.

"We're eager to have students attend so as to help them make career choices," said Coons.

Kelly Kill, executive director of the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that younger job seekers many times stop off at places such as One Stop Employment and Training Network and Network Employability Training (NET), which works with ages 14 to 21 to connect with employers, post-secondary education and life skill training. A mock interview process is additionally available for those in need of such services while at Thursday's event.

"I think people need to stop and check out who's there and see if their r?sum?s and skills are up to par for looking for a job," explained Kill.

Some other companies that may help with the career-starting process are Spherion, Custom Staffing and Staffmark. A representative from the U.S. Army will also be on hand to answer questions.

The St. Marys director said while the annual event is beneficial for showcasing job openings, various schools of higher learning will be on hand to give students and others a look into their futures for education. Higher education institutions that will represent the surrounding community include Wright State University-Lake Campus, Rhodes State College, Apollo Career Center and Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

In addition to the three local chambers of commerce, the job fair is an annual event supported by the Auglaize County Board of Commissioners, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Wright State University-Lake Campus, JTDMH and the newspapers of Auglaize County.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will be available to assist with resume preparation, online job searches, job development and placement.

According to www.ohioworkforceinformer.org, the overall unemployment rate for 2006 in Auglaize County was 4.2 percent. Additionally, last February, the percentile sat at 4.7, but has dropped to 4.5 percent this year.

Ohio's unemployment rate was 5 percent in February, a decrease from January's 5.3 percent, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The United States Central Intelligence Agency also states that the national unemployment rate was 4.8 percent last year.

For more information about the job fair, contact the St Marys Area Chamber of Commerce (419-300-4611), the Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce (419-738-2911) or the Southwestern Auglaize Chamber (419-629-0313).