AccessDubuqueJobs.com Fall Career Fair Connects Talent with Opportunity in Greater Dubuque

The AccessDubuqueJobs.com Fall Career Fair took place on Wednesday, October 2, from 1-4 p.m. in the main ballroom at the Grand River Center in the Port of Dubuque. The event drew more than 220 job seekers, including 60 students from local institutions of higher education, reflecting the region’s commitment to growing and retaining a skilled workforce.

This event was part of Greater Dubuque Development Corporation's 2024-2025 YOU can be great here Community of Colleges event series. As part of that series, Greater Dubuque Development worked closely with career services staff at higher education institutions in the region to promote the event to students. The goal was to connect students with internship, part-time, and long-term career opportunities in the Greater Dubuque region.

In addition to direct outreach to college students, a strategic, multi-channel marketing approach was employed to promote the event to job seekers across the 7-county region. This included radio, print, social media, and billboards, as well as earned media and word of mouth through partnerships with the Dubuque Works network of nonprofits.

The Dubuque Community School District, one of the participating employers, expressed their enthusiasm for the impact of the career fair: “This was a huge event for us, thank you!! Amazing turnout and various chances for many different opportunities with diverse backgrounds. We appreciated this event greatly. A huge thumbs up!”

Participating employers included: 1-800-TSHIRTS, A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing Co, Advance Pump & Equipment, Inc., Alliant Energy, Area Residential Care, BAC CPA, BARD Materials, Berry Global, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Boyd Gaming/Diamond Jo Casino, Colony Brands, Inc., Conlon Construction Co., Cottingham & Butler, Crescent Community Health Center, CROWN Cork and Seal, Dubuque Community School District, Dupaco Community Credit Union, Eide Bailly LLP, Engineering Services and Products Company (FARMTEK), Express Employment, FGH Delivery, Fidelity Bank, Flexsteel Industries, Inc., Grand River Center, Grand River Medical Group, GreenState Credit Union, Harris Golf Cars, Hawkeye Care Center, HODGE, Kendall Hunt Publishing/Westmark Enterprises/Great River Learning, Kunkel & Associates, Inc., Loras College, McCoy Group, Medical Associates, MedOne Pharmacy Benefit Solutions, MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center, Nordstrom, Northeast Iowa Community College, Northwestern Mutual, PBS Systems, Progressive Processing, LLC (a Hormel Foods Company), Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc., Theisen's Home Farm Auto, Tucker Freight Lines, Unified Therapy Services, UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital, University of Dubuque, Zero Zone Inc.

“Engagement in this career fair, from both the employer and job seeker perspective, is a testament to the collaboration between our local businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations,” said Rick Dickinson, President & CEO of Greater Dubuque Development Corporation. “Events like these are essential to building a stronger, more resilient workforce in our region and delivering on the promise that YOU can be great here in the Greater Dubuque region.”

Mark your calendar for our AccessDubuqueJobs.com Spring Career Fair, scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at the Grand River Center. Employer registration will open in February 2025.

For more information about this and upcoming career fairs, please contact Mandi Dolson, Director of Workforce Recruitment & Retention with Greater Dubuque Development Corporation at 563-557-9049 or mandid@greaterdubuque.org.