Various businesses from across Western New York packed into the Delevan Grider Community Center Wednesday looking to hire prospective employees during a job fair hosted by the Buffalo Employment and Training Center.
This is a combined spring and fall job fair, said Training Center Executive Director Demone Smith, who is looking to get people employed before federal unemployment benefits run out next month.
“So we've got almost 100 companies in here today,” he said. Some of them hiring on the spot. People are paying way higher than usual wages. And so it's good opportunity for people who really want to get employed.”
One of those people is Stefon Whiteside who, for now, is looking for part-time work. Work preferably near a bus route or his Kensington-Bailey neighborhood:
“I'm on public transportation so I just need something that's convenient for the summer and winter conditions,” he said.
For Simone Armstead, a Client Partnership Specialist at professional staffing organization Remedy Intelligent Staffing, convenience is key to job placement.
“So we do have stuff that's on the bus route and stuff that people can get back and forth in the car,” she said. “So whatever they say their transportation is, we have a job for them.”
Barring another extension, federal unemployment benefits end September 6th.