The Louisiana Business Leadership Network and the Medicaid Purchase Plan are teaming up to connect job seekers with disabilities and employers who are hiring at “Louisiana Job Fairs 2006.”  For the third year in a row, job fairs focused on people with disabilities will be held in nine cities across the state in October as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

People with disabilities are both the largest minority in the United States and also the largest population of unemployed Americans.  The American Community Survey shows that Louisiana is home to almost 400,000 people with disabilities who are of working age.  Studies indicate that 275,000 of these adults with disabilities are unemployed but want to work.

In 2004 and 2005, the Job Fairs connected more than 3,000 job seekers with 327 businesses statewide.  Organizers hope to connect more job seekers and businesses in 2006.

Events will be held in Baton Rouge on Oct. 4, Mandeville and Shreveport on Oct. 10, Alexandria and Monroe on Oct. 11, Lake Charles and New Orleans on Oct. 12, Lafayette on Oct. 24 and Houma on Oct. 31.

For additional information about the 2006 Job Fairs, including specific information about the local events call 1-888-544-7996 or visit Medicaid Purchase Plan at www.LaMPP.org or Louisiana Business Leadership Network at www.lbln.org.

Louisiana Business Leadership Network, a nonprofit association led by businesses that value persons with disabilities as customers and employees, is the statewide coordinator of the job fairs. The Medicaid Purchase Plan, a Department of Health program that provides health care coverage to people with disabilities who work, is the statewide sponsor.

A complete listing of events by region is below:

Baton Rouge Area

Wednesday, Oct. 4

9 a.m. -- noon

American Legion Hall

151 South Wooddale Blvd.

Northshore area

Tuesday, Oct. 10

9 a.m. - noon

Castine Center

63350 Pelican Drive

Mandeville

Shreveport

Tuesday, Oct. 10

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Municipal Auditorium

705 Elvis Presley Blvd.

Alexandria area

Wednesday, Oct. 11

9 a.m. – noon

Mainstreet Community Center

708 Main Street

Pineville

Monroe

Wednesday, Oct. 11

9 a.m. – noon

Monroe Civic Center

401 Lea Joyner Expressway

Metro New Orleans Area

Thursday, Oct. 12

9 a.m. – noon

Jefferson – Orleans South

2536 Edenborn Avenue

Metairie

Lake Charles

Thursday, Oct. 12

9 a.m. – noon

Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall

First Floor


Lafayette

Tuesday, Oct. 24

9 a.m. – noon

Heymann Performing Arts Center

1374 South College Road

Houma

Tuesday, Oct. 31

9 a.m. – noon

Evergreen Cajun Center

4694 West Main Street