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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

Addus Homecare brought its drive-thru job fair to Chilton County on March 23.

Staff set up a table on the Chilton County High School parking lot, and applicants could drive up or park and walk up.

Vikisha Smith, state director for Addus, said the company’s job fairs moved to an outdoor format because of COVID-19 restrictions.

“We have clients throughout Chilton County who are in need of our services, so we were doing our research to see if there were any employment agencies in the Chilton County area that we could … partner with,” Smith said.

She said applicants can be interviewed on the spot and often a decision is made, and new employee paperwork is begun.

“We try to start things as quickly as we can because we understand that some are wanting to get to work quickly,” Smith said.

When Addus was looking to hold an event in Chilton County, the company had contacted the Alabaster Career Center, which also manages the Clanton Career Center, about possibly using some space for a job fair.

Tara Seaborn, Alabaster Career Center supervisor, said the center did not have a good space for hosting a job fair, so they contacted Whitney Barlow of the Chilton County Industrial Development Authority for suggestions on who might let them hold the event.

The Chilton County Board of Education later approved allowing the Alabaster Career Center to hold the job fair on the CCHS parking lot during spring break.

“We want to support the economic development of Chilton County and help the employer find the job seeker,” Seaborn said.

She said the center is always looking for ways to connect those looking for a job and the companies that are hiring through its free services.

Typically, Addus wants to interview 12 people at each job fair. However, during the pandemic, Addus has hired two or three people at each outdoor event. Addus has adapted its model to allow the process to be completed without potential employees leaving their cars. Smith said the part-time positions do have a benefits package and the company tries to have employees working with clients close to home.