JobFest 2014 will be Great Bend’s 18th annual concerted job fair effort as employers gather to provide information about jobs available at their businesses. This year’s event is set from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Best Western Angus Inn Courtyard, 2920 10th Street in Great Bend.
“This event is organized by over a dozen committee members representing various organizations and companies in the seven-county area served by Job Fest,” said Chamber Marketing Director Rachel Mawhirter, the 2014 chair for the Job Fest planning committee. “We have fine tuned the format and offerings at the event over the last seven years and are confident that local businesses and job seekers are benefiting from this collaborative effort.”
This regional employment event is targeted for businesses and employees in central Kansas, with efforts focused on the companies and communities located in and around Barton, Russell, Pawnee, Stafford, Rice, Rush and Ellsworth Counties. Because Great Bend is centrally located in the service area, JobFest has been hosted here since its inception.
JobFest was originally held in Jack Kilby Square, but the outdoor format made it difficult for organizers to execute a professional feel. Inclement weather was also a major concern during springtime in Kansas, Mawhirter noted.
“We are so fortunate to have the support of the Best Western, who graciously hosts the job fair in their courtyard,” she said. “The venue is perfect for accommodating our 25 exhibitors while maintaining a professional atmosphere indoors.”
Best Western isn’t the only sponsor committed to the growing regional event. Numerous governing bodies and private companies have stepped up to underwrite the advertising and promotional expenses. These include the City of Great Bend, Barton County, the City of Larned, Pawnee County, the City of Ellsworth, Barton Community College, CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions, KansasWorks, and Dillon’s No. 51.
Job seekers can network with the more than two dozen employers who exhibit during the three-hour fair. They also enjoy free refreshments and the chance to win a laptop computer.
“Our event is well-promoted and has grown every year. The crowd of 200-300 job seekers who attend are eager to find employment in both entry-level and mid-level positions,” Mawhirter said.
Employers in the seven-county service area are encouraged to sign up for JobFest 2014 by the cut-off of April 25. Priority is given to those who sign up by April 15. Exhibit spaces cost $100 per employer and include one table and two chairs, along with access to electricity and wireless Internet if needed. To register, go to www.TinyURL.com/JobFest.