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ORANGE — Growth in Orange County and the region is increasing and with that comes the opportunity for employment.

This week’s Orange County Spring Job Fair, with organizational help from Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas, included more than 25 employers and 150 job seekers, according to Dana Willis, Workforce Solutions project coordinator.

“There’s a lot of growth going on in Orange County, really the whole region,” she said. “We are excited to be part of that and able to work in alignment with that growth and to open a bigger facility there in Orange.”

Willis is referring to the recently opened workforce Solutions office at 2266 MacArthur Drive in Orange.

The facility, at 12,000 square feet, offers a great place for those seeking job opportunity in the area.

“Our mission is to make a connection with the employers and the needs of the job seekers,” Willis said. “When you meet the needs of the employer with a qualified applicant and job seeker, you build a world-class competitive workforce.”

Job Fair

Workforce Solutions holds or assists with a number of job fair and hiring events throughout the year, not only at the Orange location but also across Southeast Texas.

Willis said the job fairs and hiring events are held depending on the need of employers.

This was evident with the Local First program funded by Golden Triangle Polymers Project in seeking qualified workers for the multi-billion project in Orange.

Workforce Solutions created an online database so job seekers can see what jobs are available.

Willis said some people might think the jobs are only for construction-type work, and that is incorrect. The jobs range from construction crafts to janitorial to engineering and everything in between, she said.

The Golden Triangle Polymers Project is expected to create approximately 4,500 construction jobs and approximately 500 permanent jobs, according to localfirst.setworks.org.

The database features job opportunities from different companies in the online portal.

On Tuesday, the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for the Workforce Solutions of Southeast Texas new location serving Orange County.

Executive Director of Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas Mary Hammon said the center helps better serve the needs of job seekers.

It provides a range of services, including job fairs, job search assistance and other essential resources for job seekers, including subsidized childcare.

Additionally, employers in the area can benefit from the center’s services, including recruitment assistance, customized hiring events and workforce development programs.

The new Orange workforce center represents a significant investment in the future of Orange County, providing valuable support and resources to individuals and businesses.

Future

For job seekers needing access to the Internet or a computer or job search assistance, there are Workforce Centers in Orange, Port Arthur, Beaumont and Hardin County.

The next big event is the Beaumont Spring Job fair set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 10 at the Major Event Center, 3255 N. Major Drive in Beaumont.