The Reynolds Wellness Center played host to a job fair on Thursday sponsored by the Seminole Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber teamed up with Job Express Employment Professionals to stage the event, which included 23 companies that are looking for employees.

According to Amy Britt, the Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer, 45 job seekers turned out for the event, and she believes the turnout would have been higher had the government not extended unemployment benefits.

“It was a fair turnout for our first one,” she said. “But I think the somewhat low turnout was due to the continued unemployment benefits. Some of the companies that were here Thursday said they are seeing the same issue at other job fairs. There are a lot of jobs out there, but some people who are able to work aren’t worried about being out of a job because of the continued benefits.”

Britt said despite the lower than anticipated turnout, the job fair was a success and she planned to have another one sometime later this year.

“The Reynolds Wellness Center was an awesome host and Job Express gave away free meals from a food truck that was at the event to the first 20 job applicants. It was a success and we’re already planning another one for this year, but we haven’t picked yet picked out a date,” Britt said.

Participating businesses and organizations in Thursday’s event included Bar-S Foods, Casey’s General Store, First United Bank, Seminole Public Schools, Seminole State College, Seminole Nation Higher Education, Sooner Private Services, Stanley’s, Tractor Supply, Boom A Rang, Banc First, Oakridge Home, The Academy of Seminole, the Seminole Nation Division of Commerce, Tyson Foods, CASA, Seminole Public Library, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. St. Crispin’s Camp and Conference Center, Sullivan-Dollar Insurance and Lighthouse Behavioral Health Center.