NEW ULM — The 19th Annual Career Expo will be taking place on March 25th at the New Ulm Civic Center (1212 N Franklin Street, New Ulm) from 10:00am – 1:50pm. The Career Expo is a partnership between local businesses and area schools, designed to introduce 8th and 10th grade students to a variety of career pathways through hands-on exploration and interaction with professionals from across the region.

The cost for businesses to participate is $25 for Chamber members and $50 for non-members, but the committee is dedicated to having as many businesses represented as possible, so let us know if the cost is a barrier. Businesses participating in the Career Expo may choose to provide prizes in lieu of paying a registration fee. These prizes will be used for the interactive Game Show/Storytelling activity designed to engage student participants. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses interested in supporting the event. The deadline for business registration and event sponsorship is March 13. Businesses interested in participating or sponsoring the Career Expo are encouraged to contact the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce for more information.

During this event, about 760 students will engage with your employees and interactive activities that highlight careers within your industry or business. Exhibitors answer questions about education, necessary skills, wages, and opportunities within their own industry. Career exploration events are significant, because they introduce your future workforce to careers before they enter the workforce, college, or other training programs. We strongly encourage displays and businesses to be interactive with students in order to keep students engaged.

Here is the day’s schedule:

• 8:00 a.m. Businesses arrive and set up their booth.
• 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. 8th grade groups come through the exhibits only.
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. A quick lunch provided for the exhibitors and event volunteers.
• 12:15 – 1:50 p.m. 10th graders come through. Half of the students will start in the exhibit hall and half in the Game Show/Storytelling. They will switch after 45 minutes.

The 2026 Career Expo is sponsored by City of New Ulm – Parks and Recreation, Optimist Club, Woodstone Senior Living, Chuck Spaeth Ford, M.R. Paving & Excavating, Nuvera, and SpecSys. Contact the Chamber with any questions or comments or to register your business for the Career Expo: chamber@newulm.com, 507-233-4300.