The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce wants people to come home for the holidays – and stay home.
The Chamber held its annual Project Homecoming career fair Tuesday. The fair aims to encourage vacationing students and out-of-town relatives to find work and relocate back to Binghamton.
Fifty employers came to the fair looking to hire. The Chamber’s Amy Shaw says that disproves a common view of the Southern Tier as economically stagnant.
“Sometimes our news stories may not be as positive as we would like, but I think if you would come here today you would see 50 different companies that are hiring, and I think it might show you a new perspective on what’s available and what’s out there,” she says.
Job seeker Andrew Mitchell has been looking for work for two months. He says finding a job in the area isn’t too tough, but getting the right job can be.
“Especially if you’re picky about certain things or if you have a certain goals that you want to do, a direction that you’re going,” he says, “Some of the jobs are not good for that.” Mitchell is studying business administration and hopes to find construction or mechanical work. He says jobs at fast food restaurants, for example, are plentiful, but doesn’t see much of a future there.
The Binghamton Chamber plans to hold another job fair this spring at the SUNY Broome Ice Center. These fairs have been going on for years, but the Southern Tier may be about to step up its pitch to potential residents. The region recently won half a billion dollars in a state economic development contest, and part of the plan is a new public relations campaign. Officials hope to market the region to job seekers, businesses and new residents.