SPRINGFIELD — The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB), the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC), and MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board have partnered to produce a regional in-person job fair called the Western Mass Job Trail. On consecutive Wednesdays, Sept. 8 and 15, dozens of participating businesses will host hiring events at their locations in an effort to help fill the hundreds of jobs available in the region.

Job seekers will be directed to participating businesses where they can walk in, fill out an application, get an interview, and maybe even a job on the spot. Available positions are posted at explorewesternmass.com and www.westernmassedc.com. Participating businesses will place balloons and signage at their hiring locations until their jobs are filled.

“So many of our tourism partners have asked us to help spread the word about individual hiring events that we decided to implement a more regional approach to our industry’s critical employee shortage,” GSCVB President Mary Kay Wydra said. “As a popular New England visitor destination, our members need to be fully staffed to accommodate and properly serve locals and visitors alike.”

Rick Sullivan, CEO and president of the EDC, added that “the Western Mass Job Trail is an innovative way to engage our residents who are looking for employment, while simultaneously supporting our corporate businesses in the region. We look forward to the positive outcome this initiative will have on workforce development.”

Businesses can still get involved in the Western Mass Job Trail by contacting the GSCVB ([email protected]) or the EDC ([email protected]).