​TCNewTech—a community of tech enthusiasts, businesses, entrepreneurs and Michigan policymakers—is working to build a culture of innovation, economic growth and opportunity for local talent in the Traverse City region. This November, TCNewTech is once again hosting its annual Homecoming Career Fair showcasing area jobs and employers, but with some tweaks.

The Traverse City event has been renamed the TCNewTech ReConnect Event and it’s going virtual. The event targets former Michiganders, plus local residents currently unemployed, who are looking for job opportunities.

Candidates that are interested in moving ‘Back to Michigan’ from out of state, or current residents who are unemployed, are encouraged to register for this free event.

In 2017, TCNewTech hosted its first Thanksgiving weekend event for boomerangs returning to Traverse City for the holidays to introduce them to local employers and explore what relocation to the Mitten State could look like. Other regions around the state have also adopted a similar event model. Many of these events have become Thanksgiving traditions in their communities and have resulted in many hires. Because of COVID-19, hosting these in-person events is not feasible. But despite COVID, many Michigan companies still have talent needs, both immediate and in the future. So TCNewTech is collaborating and going virtual for 2020.

Nine regions across the state will host ​Back To Michigan​, a series of virtual networking events (November 17–24) where people interested in relocating to Michigan can speak directly with hiring employers. The TCNewTech ReConnect Event will happen on Wednesday, November 18 from 3–7 p.m. ​on the Brazen platform—the use of this platform is provided by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Employment and Training. “​By combining all our separate event brands under one umbrella, we’re synergizing our promotional and outreach efforts,” says TCNewTech Executive Director Jennifer Szunko. “Together, we’ll show attendees why it’s time to take another look at Michigan.”

The weeklong ​Back To Michigan​ program will also be supported by the combined promotion efforts of 12 host organizations. “Collectively, we have hosted 20 Thanksgiving weekend events in the last 9 years,” Jennifer says. “Together, we will conduct strategic outreach to colleges, community organizations and talent networks to locate job seekers. We are actively looking for regional sponsors for the TCNewTech Reconnect Event on November 18. Moreover, we’re offering Enhanced Booths with additional important features like video chat with candidates for a low cost. Additionally, we are offering a limited number of free booths with minimum capabilities (no video chat) to accommodate the current hardships some companies are facing. We want to make sure this event is accessible as possible, for our employers as well as our job seekers.”

Participating events by region include Return North (Upper Peninsula), Motown & Flint Town (Genesee, Macomb, Wayne, & Oakland Counties), ReThink (West Michigan), Capital Comeback (Lansing), Discover Great Lakes Bay (Central Michigan), Rediscover Northeast Michigan, Tech Homecoming (Ann Arbor) and TCNewTech ReConnect (Northwest Lower Peninsula).​​​

If you are seeking career opportunities in Northwest Lower Michigan, register for the TCNewTech Reconnect Event.

If you are interested in showcasing your company and your job opportunities, contact Jennifer Szunko at ​executivedirector@tcnewtech.org​.