The Kearney Chamber of Commerce is becoming known as a “forward thinking” organization in the Kearney Community. In the past year it has launched several new groups and programs that have brought together Kearney businesses and residents. The latest effort is the Chamber’s Job Fair and Job Board.

In March the Chamber of Commerce noticed a need in the Kearney Community: a way to connect job seekers to local businesses that were looking for new employees. Chamber members were noticing that community members were posting on Facebook daily looking for a job for themselves, their kids, or family members.

Seeing that this employment need fit the Chamber’s vision and pillars of purpose, the 1st Annual Job Fair was planned and implemented. It was hosted at the Old Firehouse Community Center on April 28, and 23 businesses attended looking for perspective employees.

“When we started this venture, we thought we would be lucky to have eight employers and we have 23, plus a waiting list,” said Executive Director Stacie Bratcher. “We have great employers here with all kinds of jobs, across all industries. There is something for everyone right here in Kearney, Missouri.”

The job fair was a huge success for companies and job seekers alike. Participating businesses reported receiving good employee leads, and one local business even offered positions to three people during the job fair. Those people accepted those positions with the company.

Seeing the continuous need for employment connections and knowing that unemployment doesn’t just happen one day a year, the Chamber has continued the job fair initiative through the creation of a new Kearney Job Board Facebook group.

“The Kearney MO Job Board has been created to connect employers with potential employees,” said Bratcher in an email announcement to local businesses. “Area companies can post their job advertisements and candidates can look for job openings.”

The Job Board was launched on March 22 and already has 58 members and over 10 job postings.

Businesses that have already posted job announcements include the Kearney School District, Tracy Tucker State Farm, Mr. Dell’s Foods, Clay County Savings Bank, Veterinary Center of Liberty, and more.

Businesses and job seekers can view the Kearney MO Job Board here .

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story