Santa Maria Chamber and America’s Job Center of California create job fair for Sears workers

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Both America's Job Center of California and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce are taking steps to make sure that Sears workers stay employed.

They have been working with Sears to put together a job fair for the employees on Wednesday, January 22. The store closes on February 2.

The store currently employs 89 people, plus seasonal workers. As of now, over 30 employers will attend the job fair.

Employees will be able to drop in and interview with employers. Organizers are confident the event will help both employees and employers.

"Unemployment is also really low," said Alma Janabajab, a business services strategist with America's Job Center of California. "I think that there's a lot of positions that are available out there."

Janabajab has been working with Sears to create the event.

"They're really excited that there's this reaction with the community that employers are excited to participate in the job fair," she said.

The Chamber is also very involved and will help staff the event.

"There's a system in place to respond when a business closes or leaves the community," said Glenn Morris, president and CEO of the Chamber. "And in this case, it's working."

The fair will also include information on unemployment, education and skills training.

The Santa Maria Sears is one of 96 Sears and Kmart stores nationwide that will be closing next month.

We reached out to the Santa Maria Town Center Mall about the plan to replace sears, but they declined to comment. The Chamber of Commerce said there is not a new tenant as of now.