Evanston teenagers will have a chance to find summer jobs at theannual Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Job Fair on Saturday.

The fair, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at theEvanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., is part of the Summer YouthEmployment Program, a city initiative that pairs 14- to 18-year-oldEvanston residents with businesses looking for summer help.

“It’s kind of like one-stop shopping for everyone,” said PaulaHaynes, director of Evanston’s Human Relations Commission.

In previous years, more than 500 teens have shown up for thefair, only to find that not enough jobs are offered, Haynessaid.

“I’d love to see more businesses get involved and commit tohiring kids,” she said. “They are our future, so we need to startmolding and modeling them early in life.”

The biggest employer at the fair is the city. Local businesses,like Coventry Eye Care, 2000 Central St., also will be recruitingemployees at the fair.

“What I’m looking for is someone who’s detail- oriented and iswilling to take an ongoing project,” said Elaine Irish, spokeswomanfor Coventry. She said the company might offer a year-round job toits summer employee if he or she does good work.

Employers are asked to hire teens for at least six weeks and paythem at least minimum wage, $5.15 per hour. Adults also are beingrecruited for to supervise the teens.

Funding for the program has been challenged by budgetconstraints in recent years, but resident support has kept it intact.