BD & Community Job Fair Scheduled for Sept. 20

A job fair for BD employees, students and the community members is taking place Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the afternoon at the Holdrege High School gymnasium.

The job fair is a joint effort between PCDC, the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce, the Nebraska Department of Labor Rapid Response Team, BD and HHS principal Jeremy Ham. It is intended to help the more than 100 BD employees losing their jobs in October due to the company relocating its needle and syringe manufacturing lines to other plants.

“Our goal is to have everyone employed on Oct. 21 when BD employees become eligible for employment,” PCDC Executive Director Ron Tillery said. “We hope to connect those people to their next career. There are many quality positions available in our community.”

More than 40 area employers will be in attendance to share information about current job openings. The job fair will be open to BD employees from 1-4 p.m., to the general public from 2:30-4 p.m. and for high school juniors and seniors from 3-4 p.m. Pre-registration is not required. 

Those attending the job fair can expect to find tables or booths set up for each employer. It will be a great opportunity for those seeking jobs in the area to make connections with local employers and see what positions are open in the community.

With the urging of PCDC and the chamber, a list of more than 70 job openings in the area was compiled. Those jobs are posted on the chamber website at https://www.holdregechamber.com/jobs/.

PCDC, HACC and the rapid response team have also conducted group and personal meetings with BD employees and managers. In partnership with BD managers, resume and mock interview trainings were also coordinated for affected BD employees. 

“We want to help people whose lives are connected in Holdrege to stay in the community if they choose,” HACC of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Lori Larson said. “We want to look out for their economic well-being.”

Employers who register jobs at NEworks.com and hire a displaced BD employee can receive up to a $7,000 training grant through the DOL for each employee hired.

For more information about the job fair, contact Sally Sadd at PCDC at Sally@PhelpsCountyNE.com or (308) 995-4148.