By Betsy Scott, The News-Herald

Four area entities interested in pairing people with employment opportunities are joining forces for a job fair next month.

The fair — focused on filling retail, restaurant, seasonal and other positions — is 10 a.m. to noon, Oct. 9 at the Mentor Community Center above Mentor Ice Arena, 8600 Munson Road.

The event is sponsored by the city of Mentor, Lake County Department of Job and Family Services’ Lake1Stop, Laketran and Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce.

“It represents a new partnership bringing two Lake County entities, the city and the Chamber of Commerce together,” Mentor Economic Development Director Ronald M. Traub said. “Traditionally, such job fairs are undertaken by Lake1Stop.”

Another thing that sets this one apart is its emphasis on a business sector in which employment efforts normally are undertaken by the employer alone, he said.

Traub said the city got involved because of what he called a “mismatch” in local employment.

“We have an unemployment rate of (about) 6 percent, yet businesses — both retail and others — are in search of employees,” he said.

The city is donating the space and beverages. Laketran will have a table at the job fair and be recruiting for seasonal jobs as well as providing advance in-kind advertising.

Participating employers will include Bath & Body Works, The Lake County News-Herald, Dillard’s, Old Navy, H&M, Target, Holiday Inn, The Limited, Home Goods, Victoria’s Secret, Giant Eagle, Kmart and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Other Mentor-based businesses still are able to join.

JFS officials approached Traub after some general annual job fairs in the spring produced disappointing job-seeker turnout.

“If this is successful, we will be conducting other targeted fairs, such as for health care and manufacturing,” said Debra Laurin, Lake1Stop business service representative.

The Chamber will be sending out mass electronic blasts about the event to member businesses and providing information on its website, Chamber President and CEO Kevin Malecek said.

“There are always people out there looking for part-time, seasonal opportunities, or a way to get in or back into the workforce, and the opportunities presented at this job fair can provide precisely that,” he said.

For more information, call Debra Laurin at 440-350-2493 or visit lake1stop.org and click on the News/Events link for an up-to-date list of participating employers.