The night before Thanksgiving is often a time to tie one on at any one of the many downtown pubs in an attempt to create a booze force field from the onslaught of attacks of family members who don’t drink on holiday. Okay, enough about my family. How about your Thanksgiving Eve?
Judging from the level of activity at area watering holes, I am not alone. This night rivals New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day as one of the busiest bar nights of the year. Grand Rapids will have lots of options, but MichAGAIN is planning something unique.
This year, MichAGAIN, a program in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), The Right Place, and Hello West Michigan, welcomes residents and former locals in town for the holidays to gather and celebrate the mitten state at a new Happy Hour aimed at retention and talent acquisition in our region.
And while there is a heavy emphasis on fun at this cosmopolitan venue on the fourth floor of The B.O.B., this event will have plenty of corporations on a mission as they seek to recruit folks for positions in their firms. Currently, our local unemployment rate is 6.2 percent and as a result, many of our local companies are struggling to find the right people for open positions.
“For the last couple years, we’ve been talking about brain drain, the talent gap, and a number of other issues that are potentially slowing the revitalization of Michigan,” says Megan Sall of The Right Place. “This is a direct effort to address that by bringing solid talent back. MichAGAIN is all about connecting employers and candidates so people who want to relocate here can actually make it happen.”
The event will feature many nonprofits and corporate firms like Bissell, Experis Manpower Group, 5/3 Bank, GE Aviation, Gordon Food Service, Macatawa Bank, Manpower, Mill Steel, OST, Paragon D&E, Pridgeon & Clay, Ranir, Spectrum Health, Steelcase, and Experience Grand Rapids.
This is the first time that MichAGAIN, formed in April 2011, has ever hosted a Thanksgiving Eve event. Those who register in advance will be treated to a complimentary beverage as well as hors d’oeuvres.
Parents and residents of West Michigan are encouraged to share this event with friends and family coming into Grand Rapids for the holiday weekend. Who knows? It might be a great place to hook up and fall in love with an out of towner.
But, I’m sure the MichAGAIN people would want me to say that if this does happen, you should really make your home here if the hook up sticks.
Admission: Free, but please register in advance.
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