The Lewiston Youth Advisory Council plans to host an interactive job fair from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Lewiston Armory, 65 Central Ave.

Jazz music will be the backdrop for “Jazz Up Your Future,” with a special 4 p.m. performance by the Lewiston High School Jazz Band.

The council seeks Lewiston employers who would like to participate. There is no charge for a business to participate, and a table and two chairs will be provided for each participant. Space is limited, so the council encourages employers to sign up as soon as possible at lewistonmaine.gov/jazzupyourfuture.

“The youth council has been concerned that some businesses are struggling due to the effects of COVID 19. We know that some businesses are very short staffed, and we also know many individuals are seeking employment. LYAC wants to help by providing an opportunity for businesses and local residents to connect,” said council member Kiera Potvin, according to a news release from City Hall.

Participant employers are asked to have applications on hand, and table stickers provided by the council will indicate if a business will be conducting on-the-spot interviews in a break-out room or on-the-spot scheduling of future interviews.

Participant employers are also asked to provide handouts sheet about their employment offers, as well provide an interactive element at their table, such as a video about their business, food samples and menus if a restaurant, product coupons, or giveaways such as pens or t-shirts.

The job fair will also have an optional raffle. To be entered, attendees will need to visit each table, ask a sample question (they will be provided a list to choose from upon entry to event), and after interacting with a table representative the person’s “passport” will be punched. Questions will focus on topics such as benefits, hours available, and pay range. A fully-punched passport will be an attendee’s raffle entry.

Youth are also a focus of the job fair, and the council wants to be sure that there will be multiple employers on site who embrace hiring young people.

As the council plans for the event, it will also be pursuing employment supports for attendees, such as resources for business attire and haircuts.

“We want everyone to feel welcome and supported at the job fair, to include families, those who are homeless, and teens,” council member Brea Mathieu said.