(Photo by Casey Kuhn - KJZZ)

People apply for jobs at a Maryvale job fair in Phoenix.

Companies hiring in the Valley came out to a job fair in Maryvale on Tuesday.

Dozens of locals came out to the fair to speak with companies like Walmart, Starbucks and CenturyLink.

Jamarcus Turner was one of them and was hoping to find an entry-level job to support his five children after getting out of prison. He says that history can be a barrier to getting a job.

“In a way it’s kind of embarrassing, but I know everybody has their problems. So there’s no reason for me to be embarrassed about it because I’m actually putting forth the effort, I’m not just sitting on my butt," Turner said.

Youth program coordinator for Chicanos Por La Causa Dominic Cota says by having other resources like youth and LGBT support groups, the fair can provide more than just a job.

“Yes we can have a lot of employers with jobs but then once we were able to combine the community resources that are available we can definitely make our community stronger as well as the economic development," Cota said.

The event’s organizer, Maryvale Workforce Initiative, hopes to get 2,500 people employed by next June.

Cota says some companies are having trouble hiring those in a younger age group because some are looking for education instead. He hopes this event can bring the young people looking for a job to employers who want them.

“So it’s really important to build up that community and that age group because that age group is our future,” Cota said.

Organizers say this event will help employers in the Maryvale region, which has a lot of retail businesses, grow and support the community.