Florence Career Fair Connects Job Seekers to Employers and Community Resources

Collaborative Economic Development Oregon is bringing its Bridge Lane career and resource fair to Florence on Thursday, April 23, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Florence Events Center, offering job seekers, students, and families a single afternoon to connect with employers and access services ranging from housing assistance to childcare support.

The free event requires no pre-registration and no resume. Attendees can walk in, speak directly with hiring employers offering both part-time and full-time positions, and explore enrollment in workforce training programs — all under one roof. Children's activities and snacks are available on-site, a deliberate design choice to lower barriers for parents who would otherwise need to arrange care before attending.

"Bridge Lane is about making opportunity feel possible," a CEDO representative said, adding that people can "show up as they are, explore options, and connect with both employers and the resources that make work possible."

Beyond employment, the April 23 event will include organizations addressing food assistance, healthcare, transportation, and technology access — services that CEDO frames as essential to sustaining workforce participation, not just entering it. For coastal communities like Florence, where transportation gaps and limited career training options can cut residents off from opportunity, that combination under a single roof carries real weight.

The 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. window is intentional, designed to catch attendees coming off school pickups and work shifts. Prior Bridge Lane events across Lane County have drawn more than 1,000 participants total, a figure that reflects consistent local demand for this kind of centralized, accessible workforce event.

Employers and agencies interested in participating can register at bridgelane.org. The Florence Events Center is located in downtown Florence.