By John Howell Sr.

Thirteen employers including Batesville’s GE Aviation and Oxford’s Winchester plant have signed up for the Northwest Mississippi Area Job Fair scheduled for July 14 at the Batesville Civic Center (BCC).

“Employers like coming to Batesville; they like the work force here,” Mississippi Governor’s Job Fair Network spokesman Adam Todd told planners of the Batesville event last week.

Todd said that last year’s Job Fair at BCC attracted 45 employers and an estimated 1,200 applicants who made over 5,000 visits to employers’ booths.

Employers conducted 457 on-site interviews and made 324 job offers on the day of the 2010 job fair, Todd continued.

Eventually 414 people were projected to have found employment as a result of last year’s job fair, according to surveys conducted by Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

For employers, the Job Fair offers a concentrated pool of prospective employees, streamlining the interview and screening process to save time and money. Employers who need employees or who anticipate needing new employees within the next six to nine months are encouraged to participate.

“Go ahead and get an applicant pool now for somebody you might be hiring in January,” Todd said.

Todd urged planners of the event to contact employers and encourage participation.

“One of the keys to our success with these Job Fairs is that we treat our employers like royalty,” Todd said.

For applicants, the Job Fair offers a concentrated pool of prospective employers, allowing them to learn about job openings, make inquiries and be interviewed multiple times in one location during one day’s visit.

The Job Fair is coordinated by MDES employees including LaDonna Rogers, Greg Amos, Gary Mills, Antionette Isom, Cindy Martin, Shamiko Jimerson in addition to Todd.

Other members of the planning committee include Ann Preus of the South Delta Planning and Development District, Brandi Ochello of the Panola Partnership, Patsy Kilpatrick of the Panola County Department of Human Services, Roger Givens of the Finch-Henry Job Corps Center, and Ricky Copeland of Northwest Community College.

Find registration information, a list of employers and other information online at www.jobfairs.ms.gov or contact the Batesville WIN Job Center at 563-7318.