WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) - A series of job and resource fairs co-hosted by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin kicks off this week in Wheeling.
The West Virginia Democrat says in a news release that his staff will attend an event Tuesday at Wheeling Jesuit University's McDonough Hall Gym. More than 25 service organizations looking for volunteers also will participate.
Manchin says the fairs in every region of the state are intended to help West Virginia residents get back to work. West Virginia's unemployment rate in December was 6.3 percent. Unemployment rates increased in 49 of the state's 55 counties that month.
Job fairs also are scheduled March 4 at the Interstate 79 Technology Park in Fairmont, April 7 in Whitesville and May 6 at Chief Logan State Park. Additional job fairs are planned around the state.
The complete schedule as it currently stands is:
n Wheeling - ServeCon Service Fair at McDonough Hall Gym, Wheeling Jesuit University. The event is sponsored by Volunteer West Virginia, Wheeling Jesuit University and other partners. (2-6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23)
n Fairmont - Regional Job Fair at the I-79 Tech Park with the High Technology Foundation, Pierpont, Fairmont State, WVU, Harrison, Morgantown and Marion Chambers of Commerce, WorkforceWV. The Office of Personnel Management will give a presentation on how to find and get federal jobs (11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, March 4)
n Whitesville - Resource and Job Fair at the Salamy Building with the Upper Big Branch Mining Memorial Group, WorkForce WV, and other partners (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, April 7)
n Logan - Resource and Job Fair at the Chief Logan State Park Convention Center with WorkforceWV, Federal and state agencies, Logan Chamber of Commerce, other partners (11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, May 6)
n Northern Panhandle Small Business Development Fair with Discover Real WV, other partners (August, date to-be-determined)
n Martinsburg - Job Fair in Eastern Panhandle with WorkforceWV, other partners in Martinsburg (Thursday, September 22nd)
n Charles Town - Federal Resource Seminar at American Public University. This is a grant writing and funding seminar that will link communities up with available funds in the government, private and non-profit sectors. (October, date to-be-determined)
n Morgantown - Exporter Forum in Morgantown with the Export-Import Bank, Discover Real WV Foundation, and other partners (October, date to-be-determined)
n Charleston - Job and Resource Fair (November, date to-be-determined)