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First job, housing fair attracts vendors

Twenty-one participate

Staff reporter

It wasn't a wasted day for most of the vendors who participated Monday in the county's first job and housing fair at Marion County Fairgrounds at Hillsboro.

Organized by Marion County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman and Marion County Economic Development Council members, area businesses and colleges were invited to participate in the fair to attract job applicants and home buyers.

Approximately 40 people attended the fair and a handful completed job applications. A Marion High School family and consumer science class was among the attendees.

The turnout was about what organizers expected for the first year of sponsoring the fair. Some vendors seemed a little disappointed but all agreed it was a good concept.

When asked if they would participate in a future job/housing fair, all responded they would.

"We really weren't expecting to sell houses," Lori Heerey of Kannady & Associates Real Estate of Marion said. "We were here to promote Marion."

Judy Hiebert of Golden Heritage Foods of Hillsboro said the company always was looking for qualified candidates. Several people had picked up applications.

St. Luke Hospital representative Sharon Zogelman said the hospital didn't have any job openings at the present time but she saw it as an opportunity to familiarize people with the services offered.

Wendy McCarty of Hillsboro Community Medical Center had six openings with some response from attendees.

For Becky Nuss of Real Estate Specialists of Hillsboro said her main objective was to get information to the public about available houses that are affordable.

"It also was a good opportunity to visit with other vendors," she said.

Long term care units such as Parkside Homes of Hillsboro and Golden Living Center of Marion also were recruiting employees and promoting their services.

Darrell Driggers of Container Services of Hillsboro, didn't have any job openings but wanted to support the event.

Craig Settle of Cardie Oil Company of Tampa was looking for employees — three to be exact. The company is planning to open a tire store in Marion and is hiring a service technician and two mechanics.

Promoting home loan options were the reasons representatives from Central National Bank of Marion and Hillsboro and Citizens State Bank of Goessel set up booths.

Rental properties also were promoted by Hillsboro Housing Authority representative Gaye Funk and Florence Housing Authority representative Jolene Gayle.

Hillsboro Industries Chief Operations Officer Mike Gerken said he had a few openings but mainly wanted some applications for future openings.

Other agencies outside of Marion County USDA Rural Development, Kansas Department of Commerce, Network Kansas, and Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center were available to assist with housing and business needs.

Representatives of Tabor College, Butler Community College, and Hutchinson Community College provided information about training and classes.

At the end of the day, vendors were pleased with the opportunity to recruit employees and customers, and enjoyed the opportunity to network with the other vendors.

"If we can get two people hired through this fair, then I would be pleased," Huffman said. She said next year's fair will be "bigger and better."

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