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BARAGA -- If the residents of Baraga County have learned anything from their current economic struggles, it's that they're going to need teamwork to get back on their feet.

The area’s unemployment rates reached a new high during the month of March but on Friday, dozens of people attended the county's first-ever entrepreneurial fair.  Local businesses and community groups came together to guide people looking for employment on how they can help themselves, and in turn, help the community.

"People interested in starting a business can come here to talk to people that have a business and learn how they're surviving the rough times, said Baraga County Economic Development Corporation President John Westman.  "They can get insight and see if they can partner up."

Local networking was a major goal of the event, which featured 25 businesses and 7 training sessions throughout the day.

Some who attended had recently lost a job, while others were looking to rejoin the work force from retirement, but all agreed that they didn't want to relocate to succeed.

"I’ve taken a couple of interviews and looked at other jobs out of the state and came to the conclusion that I’d rather stay here," said former Terex employee Matt Holm.  "I decided I might as well look at different possibilities."

No stranger to entrepreneurship, State Rep. Mike Lahti spoke to a crowd at the start of the day and applauded the county's efforts to create new jobs.

"There’s great potential here," said Lahti.  "They’re skilled workers and independent people with a work ethic that can't be matched.  Things are going to come around, and the state wants to help as best we can."

Organizers were extremely pleased with the event’s turnout, but they think there are even more people interested in attending.

Next year they're hoping to schedule the event for all day Saturday or an entire weekend.