ECDC aides regional employers by organizing JOB FAIR

by Carolyn Bunzendahl News

When local business and industry leaders shared the struggles they were having in filling current job openings, a task force of representatives from the Rush County ECDC, the Rush County Chamber of Commerce, and WorkOne embraced the challenge to identify workers capable of filling the void.

The First Annual Rush County Economic Development Job Fair was established as the means to help meet the worthy goal. Last week, 24 regional employers came together to meet and interview prospective employees from Rush and surrounding counties.

 “We had a total of 24 exhibitors representing 30 companies and nearly 175 job seekers participate,” John McCane, executive director of the Rush County ECDC, said. “Although the majority of those were from Rushville, Connersville and New Castle, there were also people from Greensburg, Shelbyville, St. Paul, Arlington, Mays, Straughn, Spiceland, Greensboro, Winchester, Cambridge City, Spiceland, Milroy, Lewisville, Manilla, Knightstown, Indianapolis, Falmouth, Dunkirk, Glenwood and Muncie. This was truly a regional event, as the employers were also from different cities throughout the area.”

Several employers stated they were able to find quality applicants that day.

“To have the opportunity to share your business with the community is a positive for everyone regardless of open positions. Finding great qualified applicants is just a huge plus. This event was very successful and I look forward to speaking with some applicants we received throughout the day,” Dennis Fogle, vice president of Human Resources for Rush Memorial Hospital, said.

Max McMichael, co-owner of FarmBoys Smokehouse BBQ, said, “We came away with a stack of completed applications, and are beginning to call some candidates in for interviews. We were very pleased with the turnout and the whole process of the job fair.”

“I talked to several of the manufacturing firms participating in the job fair, and some had already found the workers they needed,” Sandy Fussner, Executive Director of the Rush County Chamber of Commerce, said. “It was a great opportunity to connect job seekers with local and surrounding businesses. We’ll definitely do it again next year.”

Some employers provided prizes that were given away, and ten of the job seekers who attended will be getting phone calls to inform them of prizes they won during the day. Those winners will be notified to pick up their prize at their local WorkOne office.

“I believe the organizers hit it out of the park when they decided to host the event on a Saturday,” ECDC Client Services Manager Carolyn Bunzendahl said. “This provided currently employed individuals who seek better jobs the opportunity to visit with regional employers without having to miss their regular work.”