MIDDLESBORO — State Treasurer Todd Hollenbach was the featured speaker at Thursday’s Soup & Sandwich Luncheon sponsored by the Bell County Chamber of Commerce.

Hollenbach told the Daily News before his talk that he’s planning several programs to come to the area in the future.

One program that could help residents find jobs is coming in July.

In Pineville on July 15 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hollenbach said there will be a job fair/seminar for anyone to attend at Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency.

He said the program will not only offer real opportunities from different employers in the area, but it will also help prepare people to get jobs when they become available — like how to build a resume or interview for a position.

Hollenbach said a number of local officials are involved in getting this seminar going.

It’s also part of a new outreach plan from the Treasurer’s office.

“We’ve been working really hard to come up with programs that address critical needs for the people of the Commonwealth that don’t cost any additional tax dollars, because obviously there’s no money for new initiatives in Frankfort,” said Hollenbach, who’s from Jefferson County.

“So we’ve developed a philosophy in our office of finding opportunities to act as a catalyst to create opportunities for Kentuckians to help other Kentuckians,” continued Hollenbach.

Hollenbach also discussed a program for financial literacy in the schools. He said that he felt the economic collapse was in part caused by the public’s ignorance of financial terms. He said with the program he wanted to educate students at the end of their school year - which is typically a slow time after standardized tests - and help get them prepared for financial management in the real world. He said it’s currently a pilot program in four counties but would soon be spreading out, with plans to come to Bell and the surrounding counties. He said the program would call on local business men and women with backgrounds in finance.

Another program Hollenbach stressed was called the “Treasure Finders Program.” Since the Treasurer’s office is in charge of collecting unclaimed property, Hollenbach said his office, by working with locals in the specified county, is looking for volunteers to work with the Treasurer’s office to locate people.

He said that so far it’s been immensely successful.

Hollenbach gave a similar talk to the crowd at the S&S Luncheon. Afterwards, Chamber Director Rob Lincks said that the Chamber would not be having luncheons in July and August.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.