By PATRICK HALL
The Wilson Post

Wilson County businesses and the Tennessee Career Center at Lebanon, Wilson County Mayor’s Office and Joint Economic & Community Development Board are holding a job fair next Thursday for all local residents.

Mika Russ with the Career Center said they hope to have more than 30 employers participating in the job fair, which will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Thursday, June 28, at Winfree-Bryant Middle School in Lebanon.

“We’re hoping to have more than 30 this year. Last year we had 37 and we hope to have close to that same number,” Russ said.

Over 600 local jobseekers attended the job fair last year, and Russ said the employers that will be present range from small retail stores, larger retail chains to industrial and construction companies.

County Mayor Randall Hutto said finding jobs for all local residents is a top priority and noted having the Career Center in Lebanon is a big advantage when orchestrating an event to get employers and potential employees together.

“We’re working closely with the Tennessee Career Center here to provide jobs for all residents in Wilson,” Hutto said.

He noted the county’s most recent unemployment rate was 6.3 percent, which he said was “outstanding,” and added he wants to see the number drop even lower. Hutto said they would try to match local businesses with high school students who may be looking for a summer job as well.

“The retail businesses have been a little slow to respond, but I think in the next week we’ll have more definite commitments from a lot of them,” Russ said. She added those types of businesses are the best fit for local students.

Russ also mentioned national contractor Lane Construction Corporation, based in Cheshire, Conn., would be present to hire local workers for an upcoming project to widen Interstate 40 to four lanes from Beckwith Road to Highway 109.

“They will be hiring everything from unskilled labor to individuals with experience driving heavy machinery,” Russ said. She noted the corporation would be present in Wilson County for the next 18 to 20 months.

The Career Center is also offering opportunities for individuals to prepare for the job fair next week with a “How to Work a Job Fair” seminar. Russ said the free seminar is open to all local residents and will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 21, and at 10 and 11 a.m., and Tuesday, June 26.

“For anyone who visited a job fair and was unsuccessful or felt like they could have been more successful, this will teach them how to approach an employer, how to give a good 30-second interview and show the employer that they are a person they should hire,” Russ explained.

The local Tennessee Career Center is located at 155 Legends Drive, Suite M and Winfree-Bryant Middle School is located at 1213 Leeville Pike in Lebanon. For more information, contact the Career Center at 444-9355.

Staff Writer Patrick Hall may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .