On Thursday, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) hosted a Facebook Live Town Hall on jobs and the economy, answering constituent questions submitted online and by email.

The Town Hall comes in the lead up to Sewell’s Annual Congressional Job Fair on Thursday, Aug. 3, and her job skills training workshop on Monday, July 31.

“I’m so excited every year to put on my job fair because I know how important it is to connect job seekers with those who offer jobs,” Sewell said during the town hall. “I’ve adopted a three-point strategy for job growth in Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District.”

Sewell explained her strategy for helping people find jobs.

“First, we have to expand skills training in our area –– only then can we help constituents close the skills gap and gain the skills they need for 21st century jobs,” Sewell said. “Second, we need to bring better economic development to the area by attracting employers and providing job fairs and skill training opportunities. Thirdly, we need Congress to act on bipartisan tax reform that makes the U.S. more competitive.”

Rep. Sewell will host the sixth annual congressional job fair at the University of West Alabama in Livingston on Aug 3. The job fair will host over 50 major employers hiring in Alabama. These employers will represent a number of industries ranging from the automotive industry to health services. A full list of employers is available on Rep. Sewell’s website. Online registration for the job fair is free.

In addition to hosting the annual congressional job fair, Sewell founded Project R.E.A.D.Y. This workforce development initiative offers training workshops conducted throughout the seventh congressional district by career professionals in partnership with educational institutions. The next Project R.E.A.D.Y. workshop will be held on Monday, July 31, at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa.

Since coming to Congress, Sewell has made job growth a top priority. In the House of Representatives, Sewell introduced the Workforce Development Tax Credit Act (H.R. 1190). This bipartisan bill prepares workers for manufacturing jobs by providing federal tax credits for businesses that offer apprenticeship programs as well as additional tax credits for companies that hire apprentices.