Dozens of hopefuls attend a local job fair, gaining access to employers, education, and community resources.

By: Danielle DeGerolamo, TAPinto Phillipsburg

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ – More than four dozen jobseekers arrived at the Phillipsburg Housing Authority’s EnVision Center yesterday, hoping to secure a brighter and more lucrative future. One that includes a new job, and access to resources. 

While most attendees were from the local area, some traveled from as far as Easton, Columbia, Newark, and Paterson, underscoring the widespread appeal of the event.

The job fair, designed to connect the community with employment opportunities, featured a range of employers, including McWane Ductile, St. Luke’s, ISS Staffing, Production Plus, Pipe Fitters #475, Plumbers Union, Allied Staffing, Brightstar Care, and the Arc of Hunterdon. Job seekers also had the chance to learn about educational opportunities from Warren County Community College, while supportive services were offered by NORWESCAP and Project Self Sufficiency.

The Phillipsburg EnVision Center is one of just 19 projects selected by the New Jersey State Library (NJSL) for this initiative, with a mission to empower people to fulfill their potential. Its four core pillars—Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health and Wellness, and Character and Leadership—are reflected in its community-driven programs and events like the job fair.

With structured mentoring for teens, expanded employment programming, and the introduction of telehealth and educational initiatives, the EnVision Center aims to address critical community needs. These initiatives, including Wi-Fi installation to increase connectivity, are part of a broader effort to bridge disparities made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Murphy’s office echoed the center’s mission, emphasizing the importance of connectivity in improving literacy, education, employment, and public health across the state.

This successful job fair, the first of more to come, marks another step forward for the EnVision Center’s ongoing mission to uplift and empower the Phillipsburg community that began in 2017. The event was coordinated through the Phillipsburg Housing Authority, Prevention is Key and LEAD Phillipsburg and CARES.