Orland Township Job Fair- Working For You To Help You Find Work

It seems as if the focus in local politics is always on the negative or controversial. Lately, it seems as if the major buzz around town is all of the happenings at the Orland Fire Protection District. This certainly is nothing new, when I was on the Orland 135 School Board, all the Southtown would ever talk about was some silly squabble among some board members. Balanced budgets, solid test scores, who cares, let’s focus on the dirt. Even with that, my last blog was about the Fire District.

This week, I want to focus on another local government, Orland Township. Township government is often criticized as wasteful and non-essential. It’s true that as municipalities grow and more areas become incorporated, the need for township government is diminished.  One of the functions that the township has is to provide some financial assistance to residents who are going through some difficulties. Questions about how that was handled played a large role in the election of a new township slate in 2009.

This past Tuesday, Orland Township . According to Joe McNicholas, the job fair coordinator, there were 27 employers available and some 260 prospective employees. Dr. Casey Barczyk from Purdue Calumet University was on hand to help these job seekers put together an effective resume.

I can personally attest to this because I was one of the employers in attendance. I recently took a new position that required me to make some part time hires and, at the last minute I saw a Facebook posting from Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady about the fair. When I emailed him to ask if there was still room for me, Supervisor O’Grady said that there is always room for someone who is hiring.

Having a job fair is an excellent function for the township to be involved with. Even in Orland, many people have been affected by the economic downturn. It seems that in the past, unemployment was more of a blue collar thing. Folks who had degrees and a bunch of letters after their names were usually spared the pink slip. Not this time, I spoke to a number of higher end workers who have been displaced.

I want to commend the Township for using its resources, not just to give financial assistance, but really help people get back into the work force. Helping people get back on their feet is definitely not wasteful or non-essential.