Havre eyes job fair Sept. 30

The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a job fair on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and is looking for ideas on what it should include.

The Chamber is looking to find out how many businesses would be interested in participating, said Debbie Vandeberg, the Chamber's executive director. She stressed that it will be a job fair, not a career fair.

She said the job fair will provide businesses with:

• Access to candidates in a one-stop environment

• Increased public awareness

• An opportunity to meet with non-traditional workforce candidates.

She said the most recent business survey conducted by the Chamber provided "a very clear message" that one of the biggest challenges many businesses face is having a dependable work force.

"The Chamber strongly believes in the need for workforce development as defined in the 2015 Strategic Plan," she said.

An educated workforce is vital to community development, she said.

The Chamber will continue to partner with Havre Public Schools and Montana State University-Northern to connect business and education, she said.

"A strong and competitive workforce is a must for business to grow, thus the Chamber will continue to provide education and resources to help develop an effective work force and a good work place," she said.

She said the Chamber is looking for a place to hold the fair.

“We are looking into locations but are strongly leaning towards hosting the job fair in the new Sunnyside School gym facility." she said.

Hours will probably be 3 to 7 p.m., she said.