More than 150 potential applicants filled Thomaston-Upson Civic Center on May 11 for the Upson County Job and Career Resource Fair. The event brought together people with a wide variety of skill sets and 25 different companies that were looking to hire.
“We have 25 tables set up with different businesses ranging from healthcare to industries, government jobs, school system jobs, Thomaston Police Department, Upson County Sheriff’s Office, and lots of options here for people in the community,” commented T-U Chamber of Commerce President Madison Ruttinger.
Ruttinger added that within the first 30 minutes of the job fair opening, more than 50 people had come in.
“We were blown away with how many people came.”
Industrial Development Authority Director Kyle Fletcher also spoke with the Upson Beacon.
“We’re thrilled,” Fletcher stated. “We’ve seen young people, old people, middle aged people. It’s really encouraging to see people come out who are looking for employment opportunities right here in Thomaston.”
Both Ruttinger and Fletcher agreed that the busiest room at the fair was the application room.
Ruttinger stated, “All day long there have been people in there filling out applications and turning them back in today to employers that they talked to.”
Fletcher elaborated, “There is definite benefit in having one-on-one contact with a person and being able to fill that out at the same time. We’ve had some local industries that have had to lay off some people, so that was one of the big reasons that we did this.”
Fletcher indicated that she hopes to continue holding the job fair at least once a year and thanked those who helped coordinate this one.
“The Upson Beacon, The Thomaston-Upson Chamber, the development authority, and the great staff and the help here at the civic center,” she noted. Southern Crescent Technical College also sponsored the event, with Three Rivers Regional Commission offering free transportation for those who were unable to drive.
Fletcher added, “We are so very encouraged by the results and I’m seeing a lot of smiling employers that have gotten great feedback and have lots of applications in their hands.”
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