Neighborhood Trades Party brings burgers, job fair to Urbana

URBANA, Ill. (WAND) — A creative job fair will be taking place in Urbana this weekend.

The Neighborhood Trades Party will combine cookout and job fair on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 3-6 p.m. at Blair Park.

Local leader and Urbana mayoral candidate DeShawn Williams organized the event which will include Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 149, Carpenters Local 243, as well as the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents 18 trade unions from across the area.

Companies that employ those union members will also be in attendance, including A&R Mechanical Contractors, P.J. Hoerr, Broeren Russo Builders, Davis Electric, Remco Electric, United Mechanical, Davis-Houk Mechanical and Henson Robinson Company.

A release from the event notes that trades union members receive on-the-job-training with competitive wages and benefits.

“We hope people will come by to not only learn about careers with these companies, but also learn more about labor unions and get to know our members in a fun, casual environment,” said Matt Kelly, Business Manager with Local 149. “Some will have immediate needs, others will have apprenticeship opportunities – it’s just a matter of learning how your skills, experience and interests will be a good match.”