RESERVE — It’s not often job fairs are pulled together within a week’s time, but Parish President Natalie Robottom said it was a priority given the tremendous hardship caused by the recent mass layoff of 376 Bayou Steel employees.

The steel mill, the fourth largest employer in the parish, unexpectedly announced its plans to close by Nov. 30 with the immediate layoff of all nonessential personnel.

On Thursday afternoon, those employees packed the Regala gymnasium to speak with more than 50 vendors and five service providers.

Only 25 vendors where confirmed earlier in the week, but that number doubled within 48 hours, according to Robottom.

“The big point was to try to have everybody here so that if they have questions, they don’t have to leave and go find somebody else,” Robottom said. “Everyone responded quickly to be here, so we’re very grateful.”

According to Robottom, some of the laid off employees had worked at Bayou Steel for most of their lives. Some hadn’t compiled a resume in years, and others were unfamiliar with applying for jobs online.

“That’s why the Workforce Commission is here, to help them get through that initial transition process,” Robottom said.

Tommy Scott, director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission LaPlace location, said his office obtained a list of positions held by all of the laid off employees. Those positions were used as a guideline for inviting employers to the job fair.

“We put this event together to get employers in one room so they can have the opportunity to transition back into the workforce as quickly as possible,” Scott said during Thursday’s event. “There’s skills across all industries are represented here. We got classifications of all people laid off, and all of the employers here are looking for individuals in those capacities and industries and who have those skill sets.”

Many of the vendors were of interest to operators, welders and maintenance techs. One of the employers, Apache Industrial Services, is known for industrial coatings, scaffolding, insulation, fireproofing and abatement.

Apache secured a potential new hire almost immediately after the job fair opened Thursday afternoon, according to Rusty Rebowe, director of business development.

“He came in right when the door opened,” Rebowe said. “He had his resume right in his hand. We talked to him, and he was very interested. He filled out an application, and he’s going to our office tomorrow.”

Rebowe said it was important to Apache Industrial Services to attend Thursday’s event.

“It was very important, first of all, to help the people who lost their jobs,” Rebowe said. “Secondly, we have a lot of activity going on in the River Parishes with what we do. We thought it would be a chance to hire some good people in need of a job.”

Among the service providers present were the Department of Health and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, offering information on insurance and mortgages, respectively.

Louisiana Federal Credit Union offered laid off workers advice and financial assistance. At a separate event held Thursday evening, LFCU held a Bayou Steel informational session.

Representative Sandy Lambert said LFCU’s philosophy involves “people helping people.”

“It’s in our nature to reach out and help people anyway that we can so they can focus on life,” she said. “Our financial advisors have done this with other companies that have made mass layoffs. We’ll be able to help the employees with some healthcare options and some options that may be in their 401K to provide some financial relief.”

Robottom said the Bayou Steel shutdown has a trickle down effect that impacts the entire community, from immediate families to contractors, the school system and local businesses.

“These are not strangers to us,” Robottom said. “These are people in our community that we know. Their livelihood and their children’s livelihood is important to the parish as well.”

Scott reassured the community Louisiana Workforce Commission’s response is not done.

“This is one-day event, but the Workforce Commission will be here every day as a staple to the community, as we have always been,” Scott said.