If you are in the market for a job, the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale is where you need to be on Friday, April 1 from 9 a.m-2 p.m. for the Baldwin County Job Fair.

Free to all job seekers and sponsored by the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, Alabama Gulf Coast , North, South Central and Eastern Shore Chambers of Commerce, this event has been providing jobs for residents for over 10 years, said Amanda Selph, Operations Manager for the BCEDA.

With the oil spill out of the way and the economy on the mend, Selph said those looking should be able to find some good opportunities among the employers represented at the fair. Among them will be Altapointe Health Systems, Austal, AFLAC Insurance, Goodrich Corporation, Gulf Coast Broadcasting, BRATS, Long’s Human Resources, Meyer Real Estate, Tanger Outlet Center, Holiday Inn Express, Express Employment Professionals, MetLife, Cumulus Broadcasting, The Beach Club/Spectrum Resorts, Publix Super Market and Clark Personnel.

Bishop State community College, Fortis College, Faulkner State Community College, Huntingdon College, Alabama Career Centers, Business Support Center and the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission will also be there to offer career counseling, job interview experience and resume training.

“We had about 1,000 people come last year and the companies said they had some really good success with finding employees. All the companies found potential candidates and they said that’s what keeps them coming back every year. We definitely see the need for the job fair and there are dozens of job openings available this year. These companies are not only hiring for the present time but also looking for the long-term too,” Selph said.

Companies are hiring for full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs and Selph said BRATS (Baldwin Rural Area Transportation) will provide transportation for those needing it. The only thing they need to do is call ahead and pay a small fee.

Held once a year, the fair brings residents from all over the county and Robertsdale was picked because of its central location, Selph said.

“We have the potential candidates fill out a questionnaire when they come to give us an idea of the jobs they are looking for so we can direct them to where they need to go. I also advise them to bring a current resume and dress appropriately because some of the employers do interviews at the fair,” Selph said.

The Hospitality industry seems to be the most in-demand job openings this year. “There are many, many jobs available for hotels, condos, restaurants at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and those business owners I have talked to are seeing bookings for hotels and condos increase already,’” Selph said.

The goal of the fair is to create jobs by working together with all five chambers in the county, Selph said, and bring companies in from all over the region.

Central Baldwin Chamber director Jamie Mangion said they will be helping register people,who come to the fair and try to get the word out to the community about the fair. “We do the advertising for BCEDA and bring them business referrals. We try to help them out as much as possible. We will also be assisting with lunch for the businesses who are there at the fair.”

BCEDA works hard to promote and provide business opportunities for the residents of the county and some of the goals for this year include:

-$250 million in new capital investment

-$15 million in workforce and business grants

-200 relocations, expansions and startups

-Conducting 300 existing business interviews, partnering with Chamber of Commerce

- Continue to provide technical assistance (site selection, training, incentives, financing, technology integration, exporting), to existing businesses for retention and expansion.

- Promote enhanced skills training through grant opportunities/existing business interaction.

-Continue hosting job website, job fairs inside and outside of county for workforce recruitment.

-Develop and execute white-collar job recruitment strategy.

-Generate 2,500 jobs from existing firms and non-targeted new companies

-Continue tourism marketing efforts to tap condo owners/business travelers for business relocation.

The Baldwin County Coliseum is located on Fairground Rd behind Robertsdale High School. For more information about the fair, contact Amanda Selph at (251) 947-2445 or visit www.baldwineda.com.