Job fair will be one-stop-shop for workers wanting to move up

Vicki Hyatt, The Mountaineer, Waynesville, N.C.
·2 min read

May 11—Companies seeking workers will roll out the red carpet to recruit employees at a job fair being held from 2-6 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Haywood County.

Dubbed the Mountains of Talent Job Fest, education representatives and caseworkers with the National Dislocated Worker Grant will be on site. The caseworkers will provide one-on-one assistance to help those who are unemployed learn new skills at no cost.

"They can help come up with a plan that might lead to your next career," said David Garrett, director of Southwestern Commission Workforce Development, which is administering the grant.

Lisa Morris, manager at Haywood County NCWorks Career Center, said there's still time for people to do something new in their life — get a new credential, learn a new trade or take a course on the latest manufacturing skills needed in today's world.

For those ready to start work, the job fair will include companies in multiple fields — manufacturing, healthcare, tourism, construction/trades, public safety, education and more.

Caseworkers with the National Dislocated Worker grant will also be able to explain the apprenticeship program funded through the program, on-the-job training and other ways a worker to learn new skills at no cost.

Grant funding is available to:

—An individual who has been terminated or laid-off.

—A self-employed worker who has been affected by economic conditions in the community.

—Contractors or workers who have been affected by a major economic disruption in the community.

—An individual previously laid-off who has taken a "stop-gap" job with a lower salary.

—A family member who was dependent on the income of a dislocated worker in their household and is unemployed or underemployed.

—An individual who has been unemployed for more than 13 weeks.

Visit wncdislocatedworkergrant.com for details on the federal grant, call 828-456-6061 or stop by the job fair. Located at 758 Crabtree Road, Waynesville.

Holy Cow food truck will be serving free barbecue while it lasts.