The 5th annual Northern Valley Career Expo Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks will introduce 1,450 sophomores to career opportunities in northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota.
Attendees from 33 high schools will tour a showcase floor where there will be more than 130 hands-on exhibit booths to engage students and pique their interests in pursing career opportunities in the region.
Sectors represented through regional business and industry exhibits include human services, communications, business, health sciences, manufacturing, engineering, agriculture, and technology. Post-secondary schools with related programs are also available, linking education to careers.
In addition to the showcase, students attend two of 22 available presentations from area professionals on career fields including cybersecurity, social work, and careers in manufacturing.
“By educating students about careers available in the Northern Red River Valley, we can retain our youth in the region to meet our growing workforce demands,” said Expo planning committee member and Grand Forks Region EDC Vice President Keith Lund.
More than 77 percent of students who have responded to post-event surveys following previous Expos indicate they are more likely to pursue a career in this region as a result of attending the Expo.
The annual event is organized by a regional committee representing education, economic development, and workforce organizations in northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota.
More information is available at www.northernvalleycareers.com and on Twitter, @nv_careers