As it has for several years, the Barton County Commission Monday morning approved supporting the annual Great Bend Job Fest, now in its 13th year. This year, the commission again offered $500 to support the event which is set for 3-6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the Great Bend Events Center.

“I understand that unemployment is a tad lower than it has been,” said Job Fest Committee member Karen Neuforth. “But, there are a lot of people in Barton County looking for a better job, and even just looking for a job.”

Neuforth thanked the commissioners for their continued support.  

They advertise across several counties to try to bring people in, she said. This year, they are upping their marketing and promotional efforts. 

Support was universal among commission members. 

She said they traditionally have anywhere from 200 to 300 job seekers attending the event. And, there are around 35 businesses represented as well.

“This is a regional job fair that’s targeted for businesses and employees and central Kansas but it’s held here,” she said. So far, there are at least 26 employers signed up to participate.

It is a collaboration among representatives from many organizations, Neuforth said. Entities involved with the planning and execution of the event include the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development, Barton Community College, Kansas Works and several employers.

This year, they’re actually working on doing a session for businesses who want to come just a little bit early. “This will be a 30-minute workshop on business resources.

In addition, “the businesses get a chance to meet with one another,” she said.

In response to questions from commissioners, Neuforth said employers and applicants are surveyed after the fest. She also noted that at least 50 job seekers found employment following last year’s fest.

Event highlights include:

• Participating employers promote open positions within our local area businesses to job seekers.

• The Kansas Works bus was on-site to provide resume assistance to job seekers. 

“There are people there that help the job seekers fill out their applications, and if they don’t have experience, they can get recommendations from the Kansas Works consultants,” she said.

• A career closet will be set up by Barton Community College business students to offer free professional clothing that was donated by community members and made available to job seekers. 

“Gently worn” professional wear can be dropped off at the Farmers Bank and Trust’s Main Street location in Great Bend between April 13 and 27. 

“Something that we found is that some job seekers were nervous about coming out because they didn’t have anything to wear for those interviews,” Neuforth said. “They’re given a chance to go and ‘shop’ and there is a dressing room set up so they can walk into that interview feeling confident in themselves. They then take the clothes for interviews after the case. That’s what that’s been very well received.”