Georgia

Department of Labor

NEWS RELEASE

SUITE 642



(404) 232-3685

148 INTERNATIONAL BOULEVARD, N.E.



ATLANTA, GA 30303-1751



FAX (404) 657-9996

Communications@dol.state.ga.us

Michael Thurmond
Commissioner

Sam Hall
Director of Communications

June 12, 2008.........................................................FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State labor department's 14th annual job fair to be televised statewide
ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Labor's 14th annual televised job fair will be carried statewide on Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) Sunday, June 22, from 2-4 p.m. The live broadcast, entitled Job Fair 2008, will originate from Atlanta, Albany, and Toccoa. The broadcast will be simulcast over WALB-TV channel 10 in Albany and WNEG-TV channel 32 in Toccoa.

"Job Fair 2008 will offer viewers throughout the state an excellent opportunity to better understand the services available through the Georgia Department of Labor and the statewide employment security system," said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "Our viewers will see how those services are helping job seekers and communities across the state and especially in North Georgia, where several recent plant closures and layoffs have left thousands of hard-working Georgians unemployed."

Job Fair 2008 will also focus on the plight of hundreds of workers who've lost jobs from layoffs in southeast Georgia and the labor department's intensive efforts to help them find new jobs and careers. The broadcast will highlight the labor department's important role in economic and workforce development in West Central Georgia, where thousands of new jobs are being created in Columbus and nearby counties.

"Georgia Public Broadcasting is proud to continue our partnership with the Georgia Department of Labor to again produce Jobs in Georgia and Job Fair 2008 for our radio and television audiences," said Nancy Hall, GPB Executive Director. "We know these programs provide a valuable service for Georgians. Each year we receive an overwhelming response from callers all across the state who benefit from and appreciate this important service."

This will be the first year the job fair will originate from two locations outside Atlanta - the first time from Toccoa and the third consecutive year from Albany.

Jimmy Sanders, general manager of WNEG-TV in Toccoa, said: "WNEG-TV's service area of Northeast Georgia has been hit hard by the recent economic downturn. We are thrilled to be asked by the Department of Labor to join in this major effort to connect folks in our community with the jobs they need."

Jim Wilcox, vice president and general manager of Albany's WALB-TV, said: "Part of our WALB service area includes the ninth poorest congressional district in the country. Improved education and the creation of good paying jobs are absolute necessities. We are so thankful to again be part of this year's Department of Labor job fair."

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JOB FAIR 2008 last add
Among the guests scheduled to appear on Job Fair 2008 are Commissioner Ron Jackson, Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education; Rajeev Dhawan, economist at Georgia State University; Dr. Anthony Parker, president of Albany State Technical College; Bruce Abraham, executive director of the Lumpkin County Development Authority, and Mike Gaymon, president and chief executive office of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
Career experts will be available to answer questions from viewers across the state who may wish to call in during the job fair. Viewers may also ask questions and receive immediate answers over the Internet. Job Fair 2008 will be Webcast, which will allow people to watch via the Internet. To watch the Web cast, or ask questions, visit the labor department's Web site at www.dol.state.ga.us.
Job Fair 2008 will be hosted from Atlanta by Carla Heath-Sands of WALB-TV, and co-hosted in Albany by Ben Roberts of WALB-TV and in Tocooa by Jeff Sharon and Amelia Hines of WNEG-TV. Other celebrities scheduled to participate in the job fair are Rhubarb Jones, a popular Atlanta radio personality and member of the Country Music Disc Jockeys Hall of Fame; Silas Alexander of WAJM-FM 102.5; and Len Kiese of WALB-TV.
Job Fair 2008 will be re-broadcast Monday, June 23, from 1-3 a.m. on GPB's nine-station network viewable in every county in Georgia. GPB's stations include: Atlanta's WGTV/8, Savannah's WVAN/9, Columbus' WJSP/28, Macon's WDCO/29, Augusta's WCES/20, Chatsworth's WCLP/18, Waycross' WXGA/8, Albany's WABW/14 and Dawson's WACS/25.
Two days prior to Job Fair 2008, on Friday, June 20, from 3-4 p.m., Commissioner Thurmond and staff from the labor department will participate in Jobs in Georgia: A Special Call-in over GPB Radio and simulcast over WCLK-FM 91.9 in Atlanta. The program will be hosted by GPB Radio producer Rickey Bevington. Listeners will be able to call during the program to ask about the current state of the job market and the wide variety of career resources provided by the labor department.
The toll-free telephone number for listeners to call during the program is 1-866-RADIOGA (1866-723-4642).
GPB is heard on the following 16 stations: Albany - 91.7 FM, Athens - 91.7 FM, Augusta - 90.7 FM, Brunswick - 88.9 FM, Carrollton - 90.7 FM, Columbus - 88.1 FM, Dahlonega - 89.5 FM, Demorest - 88.3 FM, Fort Gaines - 90.9 FM, Macon - 89.7 FM, Rome 97.7 FM, Savannah 91.1 FM, St. Marys - 1190 AM, Tifton - 91.1 FM, Valdosta - 91.7 FM, Waycross - 90.1 FM.
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