Career Services schedules March construction job fairs, reports uptick in business certification

Diane Kelly of Career Services told the Executive Finance Committee that her office is organizing two construction recruitment job fairs in March and additional outreach for areas with high unemployment.

Kelly said the first fair will be March 10 in Muskogee at the Martin Luther King Building and the second will be March 12 at the new community building in Tulsa; both events are planned for roughly 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. She said staff are coordinating HR resources and that representatives from housing and construction programs will attend. Kelly also said Career Services will plan a separate April event focused on Delaware County, which she described as a high-unemployment area.

On business certification, Kelly reported increased activity: tribal businesses are pursuing certification so they can compete for federal grants, and she said her team works closely with other departments on 8(a) and related processes. She told the committee that 8(a) certification helps businesses get a foot in the door but does not automatically confer other program statuses.

Councilors asked clarifying questions about certification and about spring break programming; Kelly said she would provide additional details at the upcoming education committee meeting. The committee accepted the report with thanks.