COVINGTON, Ga. - The fair is back in town ... the job fair, that is, which returns to the area to offer employment opportunities to people throughout the region.

The third annual Regional Job Fair will return beginning at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 4 at Georgia Piedmont Technical College and will feature more than 50 industries, staffing companies and partners, as well as 740 jobs.

The event offers interviews and employment options to job seekers from Greene, Madison, Newton and Walton counties.

"We're excited for this event," Stan Edwards, District 1 Commissioner for the Newton County Board of Commissioners, said. "We tend to focus on our own county and community, but this has far-reaching implications. "

U.S. Rep. Jody Hice is one of those partners and he swung by the Covington Municipal Airport to announce the upcoming event and play host to a panel discussion of industry leaders.

"There's no better time to be looking for a job," Hice said. "The economic boom is happening right here. This is, I believe, the epicenter of what's happening."

Hice heard from several employers, including Takeda Pharmaceuticals, NIBCO, SRG Global and Georgia Piedmont Technical College. 

"This job fair is so important to us," Gabriel Khouli, communications lead for Takeda, said. "There are going to be opportunities here."

Hice highlighted several new events the job fair will feature, including an application station to help fill out paperwork, two mobile labs to facilitate job placement and a free professional jacket closet, sponsored by Faith In Serving Humanity and Goodwill, to hand out coats for a professional look.

"It's so important to help applicants look more professional and improve their soft skills," Mike Cook, a technician at SRG Global, said.

Hice said he was thrilled to help bring the event to the area.

"This has been a spectacular success before and I am confident it will be again," Hice said. "We are connecting people with jobs and employers. That's what this is all about."