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LiveBig organizers: Prepare for recovery by hiring boomerangers

By Sean F. Driscoll
BusinessRockford.com
Nov 19, 2009 @ 07:18 PM

SCROLL FOR PAST COVERAGE OF LIVEBIG, BOOMERANGERS

ROCKFORD — Organizers of the third annual LiveBig weekend are promoting the Thanksgiving weekend event as a way to help revitalize the region as it emerges from the recession.

The Nov. 25-28 event aims to entice the so-called boomerangers — young professionals who grew up here but have left for educational or career opportunities — to move back to the Rockford area to live and work. Along with housing tours and social events, the signature feature is the Jobapalooza job fair.

For more info

For a complete schedule of events and more information, go to livebigweekend.com.

Booths available

Companies still can reserve booths at Jobapalooza, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Standard 8-foot-long booths are $400, or $600 for a premium booth.

For information and to reserve a booth, go to rockfordshrm.org or e-mail Barb Leahey at Rockford Area Society for Human Resource Management, rockfordshrm@
rockfordshrm.org.

So far, 29 companies have signed up for a booth at the Nov. 28 event, held at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center, 610 N. Bell School Road. That’s down from last year’s total of 42 companies.

Stacy Kiejko, event co-chair and marketing communications manager for the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the LiveBig committee is encouraging companies to use Jobapalooza to plan their 2010 hiring and fill their job openings with young talent.

“The economic realities are very tough, but they won’t last forever,” she said. “Our economy will need young, creative professionals to keep Rockford moving forward.”

Danny Zittle, Jobapalooza co-chair and director of career services at Rockford Career College, said the committee has only allowed companies to have a booth at the fair if they are hiring or plan to hire within six to nine months.

“We definitely don’t want to waste the job-seekers’ time,” he said.

New events this year include a Black Friday shopping promotion with local retailers, a “Cool Digs” open house of area neighborhoods and a wind-down party at the Carlyle Brewing Co.

Events carrying over from previous years include the Turkey Bash at Big Al’s Bar, Rockford IceHogs and Rockford Rampage games, and the “Nutcracker” performance at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.

Reach staff writer Sean F. Driscoll at 815-987-1346 or sdriscoll@rrstar.com.

MORE ON BOOMERANGERS
March 25: Career clearinghouse aims to stop Rockford’s brain drain
Nov. 10, 2008: LiveBig II hopes to build on successes
March 13, 2008: Development group hosts community discussion of study
Nov. 26, 2007: Job fair aims to attract younger workers
Nov. 24, 2007: Attention young adults: Rockford wants you back
Nov. 19, 2007: Final pitch to young professionals: Ask friends to ‘LiveBig’
Nov. 6, 2007: ‘Boomerangers’ welcomed back to Rockford

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