Job fair features more than 100 employers
Whitney Barr, right, and Alex Brown, with Integrated Security Solutions, speak with an attendee at the 2022 Job & Veteran Opportunity Fair at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo Building on Wednesday, Sept. 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
The NWMT Job & Opportunity Fair is returning to Kalispell and the Flathead County Fairgrounds on Thursday, April 6, with more than 100 employers attending, as well as juniors and seniors from seven northwest Montana High Schools.
The event includes two segments – high school career exploration and a job fair. The career exploration segment will be held from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by the job fair from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
During career exploration, high school juniors and seniors can meet with employers as they learn about a variety of career opportunities, career paths and types of jobs available at individual businesses, as well as job shadowing, apprenticeships, internships and summer and year-round jobs.
“Business is booming in Kalispell and northwest Montana,” said Lorraine Clarno, President/CEO of Discover Kalispell Chamber. “At the chamber level, one of the initiatives we’re focusing on is child care and the various career opportunities it provides. This year’s job fair will have 10 plus employers with child care career paths and we look forward to introducing these opportunities to students.”
Child care and youth program-focused businesses that will be attending the event include Northwest Montana Head Start, The Birds Nest, Discovery Developmental Center, Logan Health, Kalispell Parks and Recreation, Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp, Immanuel Lutheran Communities, Columbia Falls School District 6, Flathead Valley Community College and Glacier Presbyterian Camp.
Employer-supported child care is also top of mind for many businesses, especially as it remains a priority and benefit for potential employees of varying ages, according to the chamber. During the job and opportunity fair, the Discover Kalispell Chamber will be on hand to share more about the tools they are developing to provide employers with the best support, data and resources possible.
“Individuals who work in child care have a far-reaching impact on every career in northwest Montana,” said Clarno. “Child care providers are essential employees and the world would not run without them. Here in Kalispell, we want to ensure that this valuable career path is not overlooked.”
The NWMT Job & Opportunity Fair is a joint effort between Job Service Kalispell, Discover Kalispell Chamber, Flathead Valley Community College and the Daily Inter Lake.
Registration is still open for employers, with sign-up available though scarlon@dailyinterlake.com. For schools interested in having their high school junior or senior students attend (which is free of charge), contact Jenn Cronk with the Discover Kalispell Chamber at 406-758-2801 or j.cronk@kalispellchamber.com.