ELKINS — After being canceled due to COVID concerns and other unforeseen circumstances in 2022, the annual Randolph County Job Fair will return to the Phil Gainer Community Center on Jan. 31.

“Last year was a crazy year. Between working on major projects, recurring scheduling conflicts, and COVID spikes continuing, we were not able to host the Job Fair a year ago,” Kris Wilmoth, Randolph County Development Authority Deputy Director, told The Inter-Mountain. “That’s why we’ve made it a priority to host a fair first thing in 2023.

“It’s always a pleasure to gather so many of our great Randolph County businesses under one roof and provide an event where they can connect in-person with job seekers.”

The event, which is being co-sponsored by the Randolph County Development Authority, Elkins-Randolph County Chamber, and Elkins Main Street, will provide job seekers with a four-hour window — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — to mingle with a host of employers on hand.

“Everything having to do with the job fair is coming along great,” said Wilmoth. “We have well over 40 employers registered at this point and it is a very diverse list.”

“We are thankful to have the Elkins-Randolph Chamber and Elkins Main Street partnering with us on this event. They have been great in helping us get the word out and it’s going to be nice having more boots on the ground the day of the event helping us run it.”

Employers already signed up to attend the event include: AF Wendling, AHF Products, Alfa Laval, Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, Applied Construction Solutions, Autumn Lake Healthcare at Crystal Springs, CCIL/WV Choice, Citizens Bank of West Virginia, CJ2 Cleaning LLC, Community Care of West Virginia, Davis Health System, Davis Trust Company, Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, Elkins Mountain School, Elkins Rehabilitation and Care Center, Family Eye Care Center, Federal Bureau of Prisons-FCI Gilmer, Greenfield Cabinetry, AF Allen Company, Mountain Valley Bank, Nella’s at Autumn Lake Healthcare, Optimum, Randolph County Housing Authority, Randolph County Schools. Randolph County Technical Center, Saneso, Social Security Administration, Tanner Lumber Company, Taylor Hospitality, Trout Unlimited, US Cellular, Vandevander & Nypl, West Virginia Children’s Home, West Virginia Rural Water Association, West Virginia Women Work, Workforce WV, WV Department of Highways, WV DHHR/Bureau for Family Assistance, WV DHHR/Bureau of Social Services, WV DHHR/SNAP, WV Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, WV Laborers Training Trust Fund, Youth Health Service, Inc., and 22nd Century Technologies LLC.

Wilmoth said she expects this year’s job fair to return to what it was before COVID entered the picture and forced big events to be canceled.

“Everything was just kind of thrown off schedule the past two years during COVID,” she said. “Before then we were really lucky with the amount of employers and job seekers we had come out to the events. We’re hoping it will return to that this year and we will have a great crowd.”

Wilmoth said she expects even more employers to sign up before the event. For more information or to register, call 304-637-0803.