For the past 10 years, the IowaWORKS’ center in Davenport has been connecting veterans, military spouses and other jobseekers with career opportunities. An upcoming job fair event promises to be its largest ever, organizers say.
The state’s American Job Center will celebrate its milestone anniversary with its 10th Annual Eastern Iowa Success Fair. Employers across the Quad Cities region are encouraged to participate in the Success Fair, which will be Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at NorthPark Mall in Davenport.
The Success Fair, which has grown into one of Eastern Iowa’s largest employment and resource events, will celebrate a decade of connecting veterans, transitioning service members, military families, and community members with meaningful careers, educational opportunities, and essential support services. The fair is free and open to the public.
The military-focused job fair will bring together about 100 employers, educational institutions, and community organizations.
During its tenure, the Success Fair has helped thousands of jobseekers find meaningful employment while strengthening the workforce pipeline for regional employers. Last year alone, the event drew more than 400 attendees.
“The Eastern Iowa Success Fair represents 10 years of collaboration, opportunity, and community impact,” James Stout, IowaWORKS’ Home Base Iowa career planner, said in a news release. “Our goal has always been to connect people with the employers, education, and resources they need to succeed. Whether someone has recently been displaced from a job, is transitioning from military service, or is simply seeking a new career path, this event opens doors and creates opportunities.”
Organizers credit the event’s success to the strong partnership between IowaWORKS, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), Home Base Iowa, regional employers, educational institutions, and to the community’s workforce development and economic growth organizations.
New careers, futures
Employers and other participants are now being sought to participate. Collectively, they will offer jobseekers access to thousands of career opportunities across the region. To participate in the 2026 Success Fair, employers and other organizations can register here.
“Veterans, service members, military spouses, and community members will have the opportunity to meet directly with hiring managers, participate in on-site interviews, and build professional connections with some of the region’s leading employers,” Shane Sawyer, local veteran employment representative, said in the release. “The Success Fair is more than a job fair – it is a community event designed to help individuals discover new possibilities and build brighter futures.”
In addition to employment opportunities, attendees will have access to career resources, educational programs, workforce training information, and support services designed to help individuals achieve long-term success.
IowaWORKS’ Davenport office, an American Job Center, has been recognized nationally for its work in helping transitioning veterans and its outreach. In 2025, the office received the Mark Sanders Award at the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) 11th annual Veterans Conference in Washington, D.C.
The annual award recognizes a one-stop career center whose efforts to serve vets go above and beyond the scope of mandatory service provision and have a special emphasis on serving veterans with significant barriers to employment. Its namesake was with the California Employment Development Department and in NASWA leadership roles and devoted to promoting excellence in services to disabled Veterans.
Year-round assistance
For veterans unable to attend this summer’s Success Fair, IowaWORKS continues to provide year-round assistance through its Davenport office, including resume development, career counseling, job search assistance, interview preparation, veteran services, and workforce training resources. The IowaWORKS American Job Center is located at 1801 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport.
For additional information about the Success Fair, employer registration, or community participation opportunities, contact James Stout, IowaWORKS Home Base Iowa career planner, at (563) 445-3200, Ext. 43350
