La Plata County high school seniors will have a chance to meet with “forward-thinking businesses” and enter the workforce upon graduating in May.

Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio high schools are all partnering with the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative to host the inaugural “Hire Me Fair” from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 1 at Bayfield High, according to a news release.

The event is geared toward establishing “meaningful connections” that benefit both students and business owners, the release said.

“At the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative, we recognize the importance of engaging our youth with opportunities they are interested in while also building a workforce for our region,” said Steve Otter, counselor coordinator for the Collaborative and the San Juan BOCES, in the news release. “The Hire Me Fair represents a proactive approach to addressing the transition from high school to the workforce, ensuring that our students have access to meaningful employment right here in our community.”

Graduating seniors from the three aforementioned schools will be able to explore various career opportunities, from full-time and part-time employment to seasonal work. They will also able to showcase job skills they may have via networking and on-the-fly interviews, the release said.

Businesses and other organizations looking to attend the event and connect with these students are required to sign up online at tinyurl.com/2fzhfnhz.

Students eager to attend the fair are asked to coordinate with their school counselor.

For more information about the fair, businesses can contact Otter at sotter@swcoedcollaborative.org.

mhollinshead@durangoherald.com