Atlanta job fair set for August

In response to the COVID unemployment benefits program ending, seasonal worker changes and help wanted signs around the area the Cass County Citizens Journal-Sun and the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce have decided to hold a Job Fair at the Mattie Lanier Richey Center on August 19, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no cost for the job seekers. For companies interested in participating, it is recommended to sign up as soon as possible, space is limited.

As a chamber member benefit, there is early registration from July 9 - July 23 exclusively to chamber members at the reduced rate of $25 for a booth space. Space is limited so there is only one booth per employer. Registration for vendors is online and can be found here. There is no registration required for job seekers.

Registration then will open to non-chamber members July 26 - August 6; the non-member fee is $35 for a booth space. Late registration is $50 and will be open for any unfilled vendor space beginning August 9.

Each vendor booth will include an eight foot table and (up to) four chairs. Each vendor should bring table linens and anything else needed for display. The facility is handicap accessible and has onsite restrooms. A refreshment table will be available for all to enjoy.

Employers have been experiencing a shortage of workers around the state because of COVID concerns, along with the extra-governmental assistance for those out of work because of the pandemic. Originally, workers were given an extra $600 on top of normal unemployment benefit payouts. Up until last month, the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (PUCP) provided an additional $300 weekly benefit paid to unemployed workers. That changed because, “as of June 26, 2021, the State of Texas has ended its participation in the federal pandemic unemployment benefit programs. As a result, the final benefit week that the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) paid federal pandemic unemployment benefits under the American Rescue Plan was the benefit week ending June 26, 2021,” according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program was for those who traditionally did not qualify for regular state benefits, such as self-employed and independent contractors, or exhausted all other benefits

The PUA benefits were available for those claimants who:

· Lost their jobs or self-employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic

· Did not earn enough wages in the 18 months before they applied for benefits to qualify for a regular unemployment benefits claim

· Exhausted their regular unemployment, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation PEUC and State Extended Benefits (EB) or did not qualify for these claims

If you were receiving PUA and FPUC federal benefits, the last week you can request benefit payment for was the week ending June 26, 2021. You will not receive any further pandemic program benefit payments after June 26, 2021, even if you had a balance remaining on your claim.

With the unemployment changes and the high school youth going back to school, it became necessary for a job fair says Publisher Shawn Larson. “Area businesses are beginning to recover from COVID and there is a need for good workers for those businesses. The goal of this fair is to equip our businesses in the community with the best workers, and for workers to find just the right place to work,” says Larson.

For those companies who would like to register can do so here: https://bit.ly/2T3jkls. Again, there is no registration for job seekers.