Scores of southern Pennyrile students and working adults poured into the Way Christian Youth Center Wednesday morning and afternoon — seeking new career opportunities in and around Cadiz through the annual Job Fair and Career Expo.
Once again made possible through a partnership with the Trigg County Chamber of Commerce, the West Kentucky Workforce Board and the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council, more than 200 juniors and seniors from Trigg County High School — and more than 150 adults — had been through the doors by 4:30 PM, weaving from table to table anticipating the next big chance.
Tom Sholar, business liaison for the West Kentucky Workforce Board, said things far surpassed his expectations — as attendance soared with individuals seeking part-time seasonal options, as well as full-time pathways.
Trigg and Lyon counties, he said, are uniquely positioned on that front — able to aptly offer both roads because of stable industry, as well as the amount of freshwater recreation available.
Tara Rhodes Hall, Trigg County Chamber Director, agreed.
There were two things she had her eye on for the afternoon.
The first: a need for more recent college graduates to pay a visit.
And the second: a need for those folks who already have a stable 8-to-4, 9-to-5 job, but might not be maximizing their passions and talents where they currently are, and feel stuck.
Iterating Hall’s point, it’s worth noting who was in attendance Wednesday: The Edge Media Group, TVA and Pennyrile Electric, Trigg County Schools, the City of Paducah, the United States Postal Service, Holy Barks, CareTenders, the Trigg County Hospital, Ingram Barge, Hopkinsville Community College, Murray State University, Humphries Physical Therapy, Prizer Point, Cumberland Hall, Rogers Group, Dairy Queen, Shady Lawn, Cracker Barrel, PennyRoyal, Trigg Supply, Youth Villages, PACS, Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Ace Acoustical & Drywall, Christian Heights and the U.S. Army.
Hall said that, from a local standpoint, she’s been impressed with Trigg County Hospital, and the number of different careers it offers.
Furthermore, West Kentucky Workforce Board officials took an impromptu poll, asking those visiting how they heard about the job fair. As of 4 PM, more than 50 said they saw details about it on Facebook, more than a dozen said family and friends had notified them, and nearly a dozen said they had heard advertising on the radio.
