FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rick Slusher,
Virginia Employment Commission
Phone: 703-897-0407
Citing the difficult times that employers are having finding employees, historically low unemployment rates, and local demographic studies that revealed that almost sixty percent the working population in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park is leaving to work in other jurisdictions, the organizers of Jobs2000 felt that the time had come to profile the magnitude of job opportunities that exist right here in the community. "This is a great place to live and work. Our children our born in our own excellent healthcare facilities; they attend good schools; they can get a full college education here. Jobs2000 will show that you and your children can stay here to work, too," stated Jobs2000 Chair, Traci DeGroat, who also serves as President of the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce. "World-class companies locate here-Lockheed Martin, Dominion Semiconductor, ATCC, to name only three. They and hundreds of other employers are searching for people at all levels of career experience. Jobs2000 will give local citizens first dibs on them. In one day, they'll be able to meet company representatives, hand-deliver their resume and potentially snag an on-site interview."
Jobs2000 is planned as a general discipline career expo, meaning there will not be just one industry-type represented. Organizers are planning to showcase the wide range of jobs available, jobs they are hoping will keep local citizens from having to spend hours a day driving to and from work.
The organizers argue that the benefits of keeping local people employed in the community extend far beyond the personal. They are hoping that by filling jobs locally, they will be contributing a transportation solution: less need for commuter roads. They also cite economic benefits to the community including new growth for existing businesses that will expand the business tax base, new business development, and increased dollars spent in the community from employees who stay here to work, run their daily errands here, eat lunches here and otherwise add to the tax base. Jim Oliver, Director the City of Manassas Department of Social Services, states a third reason: "Think of the good things that each new employee will be able to do with their hour and a half per day of time that they used to spend on the road- volunteering in the schools, joining a civic organization, or simply playing with their own kids. Jobs2000 is going to help us build a better community."
As numerous as the benefits are the number of disparate groups who have coalesced to form the Jobs2000 steering committee. In addition to the Chamber and Manassas Department of Social Services, they include the Manassas Business Council; Departments of Social Services of Prince William County and Manassas Park; the Virginia Employment Commission; Prince William County Department of Economic Development; the Northern Virginia Community College; the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services; the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC-OmniLink); and private employers, Lockheed Martin Federal Systems and Employment Enterprises, Inc. The group first sat down together in early December and quickly created a general interest survey that reached the Chamber's membership and a list provided by the PWC Department of Economic Development.
Receiving a fourteen percent response, the analysis clearly indicated that there was enough interest to continue plans for the Expo. The Wednesday, April 7, date was chosen to accommodate the early hiring needs of many businesses and because it coincided with the dates that Metz Jr. High School was available. The school location will be able to accommodate between 120 - 150 employer booths and has parking for 400 vehicles at any given time. The organizers are planning for a large turn-out and have arranged the Expo's hours of operation so that commuters and the "already-employed" will be able to attend during their lunch hours or after work.
Responding to comments that it is a large undertaking, Ms. DeGroat commented: "We've got this lofty goal. We think we're going to make life better for our local citizens and businesses. It's energizing! We want everybody to turn out on April 7...see what this community has to offer!"
Copyright © 1999 Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce, all rights reserved.
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