Shining directly on the local economy is the Spotlight on
Hollister trade show, being held today at the Veterans Memorial
Building.
Shining directly on the local economy is the Spotlight on Hollister trade show, being held today at the Veterans Memorial Building.
The show began nine years ago and has been put on annually by the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, the Hollister Downtown Association and several other agencies committed to promoting the city’s business environment, Director of the EDC Al Martinez said.
“It gives the community the opportunity to see the various types of employers we have and what they do,” Martinez said. “And businesses get to meet with each other – many don’t even know they’re here.”
Just under 100 businesses will attend today’s event, with about 95 percent from Hollister and the rest from neighboring areas, Martinez said.
“There’s all types of businesses – everything under the sun,” he said. “Manufacturing, temp agencies, the city of Hollister – we’ve even got the U.S. Army.”
The free event begins at noon and will include a mixer from 5:30 to 7 p.m., where several local restaurants will provide specialties from their menus, said Barbara Cosio, one of the coordinators for the event.
“It’s just a little taste of what they have,” Cosio said. “It’s a spotlight on their business so people know where they’re at and what they serve.”
The event also serves as a job fair where prospective employers can scout for future employees, Martinez said.
“The words ‘job fair’ were added to draw people in and it has worked,” he said. “A lot of companies come in just for that part.”
Local computer consultant Wolfgang Leitenberger, owner of WML Computer Solutions Consulting, will have a booth at the event for the second year in a row.
Last year’s event netted him new customers and new business contacts as well, he said.
A multitude of companies under one roof is something the public should take advantage of, he said.
“It’s very good for people to talk to the companies, and all the business (owners) like to talk to the people,” Leitenberger said. “In a half-hour you can solve some problems or get new information.”
