What better way to show off the opportunities and characteristics of the Great Lakes Bay region to potential job-seekers than to bring them here? That's the idea behind a planned event in August, which will bring up to 300 college students to Midland, Bay City and Saginaw.
It's named the
Pure Opportunity: Great Lakes Bay program and will take place Aug. 4, including tours of the three cities and a luncheon with potential employers.
"College students today are already assuming they need to leave Michigan to find a job and this a chance to get them in front of employers looking to hire in the state," says Stefanie Ridenour, program manager for talent enhancement with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "Contrary to what you hear, this is a great place for finding work."
A similar event took place in Detroit earlier this year, called LiveWork Detroit. It had good results, with more than 25 percent of students who attended saying they had a job lead from the event, and 18 percent of employers who attended saying they planned to hire someone they met there. The Bay area event brings in some themes from the Pure Michigan tourism campaign, hence the name change.
"For the employers, the message is that there are going to be busloads of college students and young professionals that are looking for jobs coming to your region," Ridenour says. "This event is a great way to meet with them one-on-one. There's really nothing better than that face-to-face contact."
The all-day event will welcome students from Davenport University, Delta College, Saginaw Valley State University, Central Michigan University, and others across the state.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Stefanie Ridenour, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.