The Oh-Penn Interstate Region Job Expo will be held Wednesday Sept. 15 at the Covelli Centre, Youngstown, from noon until 5 p.m. Click here for more details.

A number of projects in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana Counties will involve facilities construction and could mean job openings in the construction trades. Some of the construction projects such as V&M Star will be done by union contractors. Those interested in apprenticeships should work through the actual contractor. Some apprenticeship openings are posted on http://jfs.ohio.gov/apprenticeship. Also, potential apprentices should check with local union halls. (A good way to find local union halls is to use Google.)

An Austintown company is hiring forklift operators, assemblers and material clerks. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and be able to work all shifts. The positions pay $8 an hour during the 3-month probationary period then increase to scale. There are approximately 100 openings in total. To apply, visit the Trumbull, Mahoning or Columbiana County One-Stop to complete an application.

Project HIRE provides funding to defray the cost of training new-hired employees and assist the employer in selecting the job candidate. Through an On-the-Job Training contract, an employer can receive up to 50 percent of the cost of a new employee’s wages during an initial training period. Also Project HIRE can fund ACT WorkKeys® testing to document a candidate’s skills in math, reading and locating information. To learn more, click here.

The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) has been notified of a national scheme targeting recipients of unemployment compensation benefits. Multiple states have reported customers receiving bogus text messages on their cell phones, claiming to be from state unemployment agencies. The bogus message informs recipients their unemployment benefits have been suspended and to call the provided phone number to reactivate. When recipients call, they are asked for personal information, including debit card numbers and PIN. At that point, unemployment benefits deposited on the debit card are accessed and withdrawn by the scammer. ODJFS tells its customers that representatives will never ask for debit card information or PIN.

The East Liverpool One-Stop satellite located at Shining Reflections, 509 Market St., East Liverpool, is an official Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) site where Ohioans can check for potential eligibility for a variety of public benefits. The Internet-based program connects low- to moderate-income Ohioans to a number of benefits such as health care coverage, home energy assistance, child care subsidies and food stamps. Counselors are on-site to help those interested in checking eligibility. Individuals take a printout of the OBB workup to the agency that provides the specific benefit(s).

Ohio's Attorney General is alerting Ohioans looking for job opportunities about a number of scams that target job seekers. Richard Cordray, Ohio Attorney General, issued a letter describing legitimate employment services and giving tips to avoid job opportunity scams. To view this letter, click here. The Attorney General offers more advice to protect Ohioans from fraud like foreclosure rescue scams and your rights in dealing with debt collectors. You can also learn how to get a copy of your credit report and file a consumer complaint. Visit www.SpeakOutOhio.gov.

If you lost your job through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for help making your COBRA payment or may be able to pick up COBRA after you've turned it down. To view a flyer from the U.S. Department of Labor about COBRA assistance and contact information, click here.

President Obama has introduced a plan to help homeowners refinance or modify their mortgages. Many homeowners pay their mortgages on time but are not able to refinance to take advantage of today's lower mortgage rates. A Home Affordable Refinance will help borrowers whose loans are held by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac refinance into a more affordable mortgage. Many homeowners are struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments either because their interest rate has increased or they have less income. A Home Affordable Modification will provide them with mortgage payments they can afford. Use the self-assessment tool to see if you can benefit from Making Home Affordable. To find out if you are eligible, click here.