The ninth annual Keene Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and Job Fair will be noon-6 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, at the Leiske-Pultar Gymnasium on the campus of Southwestern Adventist University.
North Central Texas WorkForce will host a job fair during this year's Expo. The WorkForce's 13-work station mobile labratory will be on hand to assist with employment applications.
Admission to the Expo and the job fair is free. Hot food will be available prepared by the sophomore class from Chisholm Trail Academy.
 Last year, a record 30 businesses participated with booths and displays.
As of press time Wednesday, commitments for booths had been received from Chisholm Trail Estates, city of Keene, First Baptist Church, Huguley Medical Associates-Dr. Retamozo in Keene, Johnson County Attorney's office, Meals-On-Wheels, Neighborhood Fitness, Pinnacle Bank, Read-Billingsley Real Estate, Sabre Industires, Southwestern Adventist University and Town Hall Estates. 
“The Keene Business Expo is a wonderful opportunity for all businesses in Keene and surrounding areas to gain exposure in the community,” chamber president Donnie Beeson said. “Members of the community enjoy browsing the aisles of the Expo and seeing what each business has to offer.”
Visitor comments from past Expos indicate
that not everyone is aware that a specific service exists in Keene or nearby, or they didn't know that there was such a large selection of businesses in Keene and the area, Expo co-cordinator Jorge Velez said.
Expo booths cost $50 for Keene Chamber members and $100 for nonmembers. Sponsorships are available for $200.
Sponsors this year are CareFlite, Chaf-In Restaurant, Cleburne Ford, General Insurance Service, Ideals Architectural Design, Keene Community Development Corporation, Keene Economic Development Corporation, Pinnacle Bank, Signs of Success, Southwestern Adventist University, Town Hall Estates, United Cooperative Services and   Workforce Solutions of North Central Texas.
To register for a booth, contact the Keene Chamber of Commerce at 817-556-2995 or register online at expo@keenechamber.com.
Members of the Expo planning committee include Dale Hainey of Southwestern Adventist University, Dorie Burdine, director of the Cleburne office of the North Central Texas Workforce, and the Keene Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
“The Keene Chamber of Commerce board of directors looks forward to show casing Keene area local businesses while visiting with guests in a casual, informative environment,” Beeson said.