For 10 years, MakerFest has connected high school students with local companies and career paths they might not see in a traditional classroom.

It's a chance for high school students to see dozens of career options to hopefully find the right fit for their future. MakerFest 2024 is a two-day event where high school students move from booth to booth, highlighting the region's diverse employers. They get to talk one-on-one with representatives and have a chance to try out the skills needed for that job. They were exposed to careers in the health field, construction, safety services, manufacturing, and more. Instructors hope the event will spark an interest for the students, and the students say the experience is helpful.

A job fair helped connect residents with local companies. Makerfest Job Fair 2021 was held at Apollo Career Center on Saturday.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the hand of the Greater Lima Region to cancel one of their biggest events of the year. The organization announced it has canceled plans to put on MakerFest 2020. It was slated for October 16th and 17th at the Allen County Fairgrounds. It would have been the sixth year for the event which aims to bring area employers together with potential employees. The Greater Lima Region expected the event to continue to grow and bring in 1500 students and 100 employers. The two-day event involved a job fair and skilled trades competition for students set to enter the workforce.

Greater Lima Region has announced their attendance numbers from last month's MakerFest. It was the first year MakerFest was held at the Allen County Fairgrounds. The event had it's largest attendance for the skilled trades and STEM competitions which was nearly 1500 students. The following day when the job fair was held brought about 800 job seekers with almost 100 employers present. Officials from the Greater Lima Region, who put on the event, feel that it went well this year. Their biggest challenge moving forward is handling the growth of the event each year.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted made his way around MakerFest stopping at many of the booths and activities. At the "Ohio Women in Trades" display, he learned more about the organization and got to see many young ladies taking part in using a welder and metal saw. For many of the students, it was the first time using tools like this and others enjoy using the equipment.

Ohio's lieutenant governor in Allen County today(10/18/19) getting high school students excited about their next step in life. Bus after bus unloading the workforce of tomorrow as they participate in MakerFest 2019. Hundreds of students from all around the region hearing from Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted. He tells them they will be entering the workforce at a unique time as Ohio is creating more jobs than they have people to fill them. It's an "employee's market" and these students need to know how to work it.

It was a big year for MakerFest, moving to the Allen County Fairgrounds as it grew out of the Lima Veterans Memorial Civic Center. Hundreds of high school students took part in the event created to ignite pride in business and industry in the Greater Lima Region. 100 businesses set up shop to meet one on one with the students looking for future employees. There were also hands-on opportunities with demonstrations and competitions on skills like carpentry. Students and instructors say participating at MakerFest is beneficial.

Lima's annual MakerFest is just days away and it's expected to be the biggest one yet. The 5th annual MakerFest will be moving from the Civic Center to the Allen County Fairgrounds this year. A record number of students and employers are set to attend the competitions and job fair on Oct. 18 and 19. Although, the skill and STEM competitions will remain at Apollo Career Center. Two state officials, Ohio lieutenant governor and state superintendent, are expected to attend. Their presence is believed to show the importance of workforce development and show the students the opportunities in western Ohio.