July 16, 2025

Many job seekers, employers meet at annual job fair

By Kate Malott

Jamie Edelen, left, speaks with a man at the Job/Career Fair Thursday evening at DMACC. Edelen and colleague Clay Prior spoke to numerous individuals about potential employment at Manatt's Inc. (Kate Malott)

Four local entities partnered together to create an opportunity for employers and the workforce to meet Thursday night at Newton DMACC.

Newton Development Corporation, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Jasper County, DMACC and the Goodwill Career Connection Center joined forces to host the annual job and career fair. About 75 job seekers and 45 employers attended the event.

“Job fairs are beneficial to the community because they give companies the opportunity to highlight positions available people don’t normally think of, and it gives job seekers the ability to meet with multiple employers in one evening and can be less intimidating than dropping off resumes,” Goodwill Career Connection Center Director Miranda Kulis said.

Manatts Construction Company was one of the employers in attendance.

The company is currently seeking employment for machine operations positions in Newton as well as other general labor and truck driving positions in central Iowa, Manatts Human Resources Generalist Jamie Edelen said. Edelen said she enjoys the opportunity to introduce potential employees to the company and to meet individuals in person instead of on paper.

“The job fair is a good way to reach people and spread the world, and we like the one-on-one with future employees,” she said.

The Jasper County unemployment rate has fallen drastically since its 2009 high of 10.5 percent to a low 3.4 percent in the third quarter of 2015, according to the Newton Development Corporation.

Local business participation included: Janco Industries, Newton Daily News, City of Newton, Caleris, ISU Outreach, GROWMARK/New Century, Key Cooperative, Worksource, KCOB, Colonial Life, Newton Hy-Vee, Skiff Medical Center, Progress Industries, Optimae, Iowa Speedway, Walter G. Anderson, Vermeer, Arby’s, Thombert, Buena Vista University, Avon, Careage of Newton, CB Costruction, Doyle and DeVoe Iowa Relaty, Health Enterprises, Manatts, Newton KOA Campground, Nurse Force, Ovations at the Iowa Speedway, Park Centre, TPI Composities, Trinity Structural Towers, Van Maanen Construction, Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Brownells, Pella Corporation, Pella Regional Health Care, QPS Employment, True Blue Spartan Staffing, Adventure Staffing, 1st Class Staffing, Iowa Veterans Home and Iowa Works.

Contact Kate Malott at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or kmalott@newtondailynews.com