TOPINKA LAUNCHES EMPLOYMENT EXPO INITIATIVE IN ELGIN
Comptroller greets job seekers, employers
ELGIN – Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka greeted hundreds of job seekers and more than 40 employers at Elgin Community College Thursday for Employment Expo: Elgin, the second in a series of events targeting unemployment and the financial stresses facing residents.
Sponsored by the Comptroller’s Office in cooperation with Elgin Community College, Employment Expo: Elgin provided the opportunity for job seekers to meet and network with state vendors and other local employers. Beyond featuring employment opportunities, the event offered free professional development workshops that addressed resume writing, interviewing, networking and other topics of interest to job seekers.
Joined at a kick-off program by Elgin Community College President Dr. David Sam, Topinka highlighted the economic difficulties facing families and communities throughout the state and nation.
“Each and every one of us has a story – either of trying to find or keep a job, or having a close friend or family member who is out of work or living in fear of the next round of layoffs,” said Topinka, highlighting the state’s 10 percent unemployment rate. “And at the same time, we know that there are Illinois businesses that are hiring. The key is to get job seekers in front of the people who are doing the hiring – and that’s what our Employment Expos are all about.”
Employment Expo: Elgin was the second in a series of Comptroller’s office events targeting unemployment. The initial Expo took place last month in Rockford, with another Expo planned in the coming weeks for the Metro East region. The Expos build on partnerships between the Comptroller’s Office and state and local vendors, businesses and associations. As the office responsible for paying the state's bills, the Comptroller is in constant contact with state vendors, which were recruited to participate in the Expos.
For more information on Employment Expo: Elgin, or the Comptroller’s Office, please visit illinoiscomptroller.com.
“In this economy, a job makes all the difference,” Topinka said. “We want to do everything we can to put people in position to find employment and succeed, that is why we launched the Employment Expo initiative. We look forward to hosting similar events in coming months throughout the state.”
